|
|
Curtis Mayfield
Born in Chicago in June 1942, Curtis joined a group called The
Roosters in 1956 with his friend Jerry Butler. The other members were
Sam Gooden and Arthur and Richard Brooks. They changed their name to
The Impressions and their first recording, For Your Precious Love,
made the American R&B charts.
Butler left the group and Curtis worked as his guitar player for
two years before The Impressions re-formed with Fred Cash (who had
been in the original Roosters) and scored with Curtis' composition, Gypsy
Woman. Other Mayfield hits followed, including Amen, I'm
So Proud, Keep On Pushin', People Get Ready, Choice
Of Colors and This Is My Country. Most of the songs had
a political message for Black America - such as the politically fired
soul number Mighty Mighty (Spade & Whitey) - and
drew on Curtis' gospel roots in their inspirational character.
A role model for Black Power, Curtis Mayfield preached civil rights
through spiritual soul while owning his own publishing company and
record label. A self-taught guitarist in an open F sharp tuning, he
honed his craft at Chicago's Travelling Soul Spiritualist Church, led
by his grandmother, the Reverend A B Mayfield.
An indelible songwriter who provided material for Gene Chandler,
Jan Bradley and Major Lance, Curtis left The Impressions in 1970
to concentrate on song writing, producing and on his Chicago record
company, Curtom.
He released a solo album (Curtis) and followed it with Curtis
Live and Roots before releasing the Superfly
soundtrack in 1972. Curtis actually wrote, arranged and performed the
soundtrack of the film as well as appearing in it, and it gave his
career a great boost.
The Superfly album won him a gold disc three weeks after
release and spawned successful singles Superfly and Freddie's
Dead - a warning against the dangers of drug addiction.
|
|
Search
|
|
|
|
site search by freefind
|
|
