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Jerry Butler

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For other people named Jerry Butler, see Jerry Butler (disambiguation).

Jerry Butler
Butler in 1998
Member of the
Cook County Board of Commissioners
from the 3rd district
In office
1994–2018
Preceded byconstituency established
Succeeded byBill Lowry
Member of the
Cook County Board of Commissioners
from Chicago
In office
1986–1994
Personal details
Born (1939-12-08) December 8, 1939 (age 84)
Sunflower, Mississippi, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Annette Butler
​
​
(m. 1959; died 2019)​
Residence(s)Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • multi-instrumentalist
  • politician
AwardsRock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991)
Musical career
Also known asThe Ice Man
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • bass
  • piano
  • saxophone
  • drums
Years active1958–present (Musical)
1985–2018 (Political)
Labels

Jerry Butler Jr. (born December 8, 1939)[1] is an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and retired politician.[2] He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. After leaving the group in 1960, Butler achieved over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "He Will Break Your Heart", "Let It Be Me" and "Only the Strong Survive". He was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.

He served as a Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois, from 1985 to 2018. As a member of this 17-member county board, he chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.[3]

Biography

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Jerry Butler in 1970

Early life

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Butler was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, United States, in 1939.[4] When Butler was three years old, the family moved to Chicago, Illinois, and he grew up in the Cabrini–Green housing projects.[1] The mid-1950s had a profound effect on Butler's life. He performed in a church choir with Curtis Mayfield. As a teenager, Butler sang in a gospel quartet called Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, along with Mayfield. Mayfield, a guitar player, became the lone instrumentalist for the six-member Roosters group,[2] which later became The Impressions. Inspired by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, and the Pilgrim Travelers, getting into the music industry seemed inevitable.[5][6][7]

Butler's younger brother, Billy Butler, also had a career in the music industry, including playing guitar with Jerry's band, until his death in 2015.[8][9]

Early recordings

[edit]
Main article: The Impressions

Butler co-wrote the song "For Your Precious Love" (which is ranked No. 327 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time) and wanted to record a disc. Looking for recording studios, the Impressions (the original members of which were Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash - who left early on, and later returned - and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks), auditioned for Chess Records and Vee-Jay Records. The group eventually signed with Vee-Jay, where they released "For Your Precious Love" in 1958. It became The Impressions' first hit and gold record.[6]

Solo career

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Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by WDAS Philadelphia disc jockey, Georgie Woods, while performing in a Philadelphia theater.[10]

He released the single "He Will Break Your Heart" in 1960, and the song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard pop chart. Butler co-wrote, with Otis Redding, the latter's hit song "I've Been Loving You Too Long" in 1965. Butler's solo career had a string of hits, including the Top 10 successes "He Will Break Your Heart", "Find Another Girl", "I'm A-Telling You" (all written by fellow Impression Curtis Mayfield and featuring Mayfield as harmony vocal), the million selling[4] "Only the Strong Survive", "Moon River", "Need To Belong" (recorded with the Impressions after he went solo), "Make It Easy on Yourself", "Let It Be Me" (with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me", "Ain't Understanding Mellow" (with Brenda Lee Eager), "Hey, Western Union Man", and "Never Give You Up". His 1969 "Moody Woman" release became a Northern Soul favourite and featured at number 369 in the Northern Soul Top 500. Butler released two successful albums, The Ice Man Cometh (1968) and Ice on Ice (1969). He collaborated on many of his successful recordings with the Philadelphia-based songwriting team Gamble and Huff. In 1972, he had a small role in the cult classic film ‘’The Thing With Two Heads’’ as a prison guard. With Motown, in 1976 and 1977, Butler produced and co-produced (with Paul David Wilson) two albums: Suite for the Single Girl and It All Comes Out in My Song.[5][6]

Tony Orlando and Dawn revived "He Will Break Your Heart" in 1975, with a new title, "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)", and it was more successful than Butler's original (#7), going to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Subsequently, Butler and P.D. Wilson produced an album with Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble on Philadelphia International Records. In 1981, "Breaking and Entering" / "Easy Money" was released from Sharp-Gamble's album Dee Dee.

1980s–2018

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Butler continued to perform while serving as a Cook County Board Commissioner before retiring from public office in 2018.[6][11] As Cook County Commissioner, Butler voted to uphold a historic 2008 Cook County sales tax increase, which remains the highest in the nation. As a result, the Chicago Tribune encouraged people to vote against him in the 2010 elections.[12] Butler, however, won reelection in March 2014 with over 80 percent of the vote.[13]

In recent years, he has served as host of PBS TV music specials such as Doo Wop 50 and 51, Rock Rhythm and Doo Wop, and Soul Spectacular: 40 years of R&B, among others. He has also served as chairman of the board of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Butler was inducted, along with the other original members of the Impressions (Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, and Arthur and Richard Brooks), into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[7][14][15] Butler released Time & Faith in 1992.[16]

The Hives covered "Find Another Girl" on their 2000 album Veni Vidi Vicious. The Black Keys covered "Never Give You Up" on their 2010 album, Brothers.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

He currently resides in Chicago. His wife Annette, originally one of his backup singers, died in 2019.

Since his 1991 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Impressions,[18] music writers and critics[19] have stated that Butler also deserves a second induction as a solo artist, based upon his successful career as a recording artist and songwriter after leaving that group.

Discography

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Singles

[edit]
Year Single (A-side, B-side) Chart positions Album
US
[20] 		US
R&B
[20] 		US
AC
[20]
1958 "For Your Precious Love"
b/w "Sweet Was the Wine" (from He Will Break Your Heart)
Both tracks with The Impressions 		11 3 — Jerry Butler, esq.
"Come Back My Love"
b/w "Love Me" (from Aware of Love)
Both tracks with The Impressions 		— 29 —
1959 "Lost"
b/w "One By One" (from Aware of Love) 		— 17 —
"I Was Wrong"
b/w "Couldn't Go to Sleep" (from Aware of Love) 		— — —
1960 "A Lonely Soldier"
b/w "I Found a Love" 		— 25 — He Will Break Your Heart
"He Will Break Your Heart"
b/w "Thanks to You" 		7 1 —
"Silent Night"
b/w "O Holy Night" 		— — — Non-album tracks
1961 "Find Another Girl"
b/w "When Trouble Calls" 		27 10 — Aware of Love
"I'm a Telling You"
b/w "I See a Fool" 		25 8 —
"Moon River" 11 14 3 Need to Belong
"Aware of Love" 105 — — Aware of Love
1962 "Isle of Sirens"
b/w "Chi Town" (from Jerry Butler, esq.) 		— — — Need to Belong
"Make It Easy on Yourself"
b/w "It's Too Late" (non-album track) 		20 18 —
"You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)"
b/w "I'm the One" (non-album track) 		63 23 —
"Theme from Taras Bulba (The Wishing Star)"
b/w "You Go Right Through Me" (from Jerry Butler, esq.) 		100 — — Non-album track
1963 "Whatever You Want"
b/w '"You Won't Be Sorry" (Non-album track) 		68 — — Need to Belong
"I Almost Lost My Mind"
b/w "Strawberries" (from Need to Belong) 		— — — Non-album track
"Where's the Girl"
b/w "How Beautifully You Lie" 		— — — Need to Belong
"A Woman With Soul"
b/w "Just a Little Bit" (from More of the Best of Jerry Butler) 		— — — Non-album track
"Need to Belong"
b/w "Give Me Your Love" (from He Will Break Your Heart) 		31 * — Need to Belong
1964 "Giving Up on Love"
b/w "I've Been Trying" (non-album track) 		56 * —
"I Stand Accused" 61 * — More of the Best of Jerry Butler
"I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" 95 * —
"Let It Be Me" (with Betty Everett) / 5 * — Delicious Together
"Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby" (with Betty Everett) 108 * —
"Smile"
b/w "Love Is Strange" (from Delicious Together)
Both tracks with Betty Everett 		42 * — More of the Best of Jerry Butler
1965 "Good Times"
b/w "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" 		64 33 Non-album tracks
"Since I Don't Have You"
b/w "Just Be True"
Both tracks with Betty Everett 		— — — Delicious Together
"I Can't Stand to See You Cry"
b/w "Nobody Needs Your Love (More Than I Do)" 		122 — — Non-album tracks
"Just for You"
b/w "Believe in Me" (from The Impressions With Jerry Butler) 		— 33 —
1966 "For Your Precious Love" (re-recording)
b/w "Give It Up" (non-album track) 		— 25 — Love Me
"Love (Oh, How Sweet It Is)"
b/w "Loneliness" (from The Best of Jerry Butler (Mercury)) 		103 34 — Non-album tracks
"You Make Me Feel Like Someone"
b/w "For What You Made of Me" 		— — —
"I Dig You Baby"
b/w "Some Kinda Magic" 		60 8 — Soul Artistry
1967 "You Walked Into My Life"
b/w "Why Did I Lose You" 		— — —
"You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It"
b/w "The Way I Love You (Nobody Ever Loved Anybody)" (from Mr. Dream Merchant) 		— — —
"Mr. Dream Merchant"
b/w "Cause I Love You So" (Non-album track) 		38 23 — Mr. Dream Merchant
"Lost"
b/w "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It" (from Soul Artistry) 		62 48 —
1968 "Never Give You Up"
b/w "Beside You" (from Mr. Dream Merchant) 		20 7 — The Ice Man Cometh
"Hey, Western Union Man"
b/w "Just Can't Forget About You" 		16 1 —
"Are You Happy"
b/w "(Strange) I Still Love You" 		39 9 —
1969 "Only the Strong Survive"
b/w "Just Because I Really Love You" 		4 1 —
"Moody Woman"
b/w "Go Away, Find Yourself" (from The Ice Man Cometh) 		24 3 — Ice On Ice
"What's the Use of Breaking Up" / 20 4 —
"A Brand New Me" 109 — —
"Don't Let Love Hang You Up"
b/w "Walking Around in Teardrops" 		44 12 —
1970 "Got to See If I Can Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)"
b/w "I Forgot to Remember" 		62 21 —
"I Could Write a Book"
b/w "Since I Lost You Lady" (from Ice on Ice) 		46 15 — You & Me
"Where Are You Going"
b/w "You Can Fly" 		95 42 — "Joe" -- Original Soundtrack
"Special Memory"
b/w "How Does It Feel" 		109 36 — Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives
1971 "You Just Can't Win (By Making the Same Mistakes)"
b/w "Sho Is Grooving"
Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler) 		94 32 — Gene & Jerry -- One & One
"Ten and Two (Take This Woman Off the Corner)"
b/w "Everybody Is Waiting"
Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler) 		126 44 —
"If It's Real What I Feel"
b/w "Why Are You Leaving Me" 		69 8 — Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives
"Ain't Understanding Mellow" (with Brenda Lee Eager)
b/w "Windy City Soul" 		21 3 — The Sagittarius Movement
"How Did We Lose It Baby"
b/w "Do You Finally Need a Friend" 		85 38 — Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives
"Walk Easy My Son"
b/w "Let Me Be" 		93 33 — The Sagittarius Movement
1972 "I Only Have Eyes for You"
b/w "A Prayer" 		85 20 — The Spice Of Life
"Close to You"
b/w "You Can't Always Tell"
Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager 		91 6 —
"One Night Affair"
b/w "Life's Unfortunate Sons" (from You & Me) 		52 6 —
1973 "Can't Understand It"
b/w "How Long Will It Last"
Both sides with Brenda Lee Eager 		— 26 — The Love We Have, The Love We Had
"The Love We Had Stays on My Mind"
b/w "Were We Lovers, Were We Friends"
Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager 		— 64 —
"Power of Love"
b/w "What Do You Do on a Sunday Afternoon" 		— 15 — Power of Love
1974 "That's How Heartaches Are Made"
b/w "Too Many Danger Signs" 		— 58 —
"Take The Time to Tell Her"
b/w "High Stepper" 		— 46 — Sweet Sixteen
"Playing On You"
b/w "You and Me Against the World" 		— 33 —
1976 "The Devil in Mrs. Jones"
b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded" 		— 55 — Love's on the Menu
1977 "I Wanna Do It To You"
b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded" (from Love's on the Menu) 		51 7 — Suite for the Single Girl
"Chalk It Up"
b/w "I Don't Want Nobody to Know" (from Love's on the Menu) 		— 28 —
"It's a Lifetime Thing"
b/w "Kiss Me Now" (Non-album track)
Both tracks with Thelma Houston) 		— 55 — Thelma & Jerry
1978 "(I'm Just Thinking About) Cooling Out"
b/w "Are You Lonely Tonight" 		— 14 — Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You
1979 "Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You"
b/w "I'm Glad to Be Back" 		— 86 —
"Let's Make Love"
b/w "Dream World" 		— — —
1980 "The Best Love I Ever Had"
b/w "Would You Mind" 		— 49 — The Best Love
"Don't Be an Island" (with Debra Henry)
b/w "The Best Love I Ever Had" (Slow version) 		— 75 —
1982 "No Love Without Changes"
b/w "All the Way" 		— 83 — Ice 'N Hot
1983 "In My Life" (with Patti Austin)
B-side by Patti Austin: "What's At the End of a Rainbow" 		— 92 — Non-album track
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.
* denotes that the R&B chart did not published during the chart runs of these singles.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The Honorable Jerry Butler's Biography". The History Makers.
  2. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 207. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. ^ "Jerry Butler: County Board Commissioner, 3rd District". Cook County, Illinois. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 255. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  5. ^ a b Lytle, Craig. "Jerry Butler". AllMusic. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Cox, Ted (April 7, 2011). "Jerry Butler: Soul Survivor". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Jerry Butler Pictures, biography, Albums, Ringtones, Videos". Starpulse.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2014.
  8. ^ "Soul singer Billy Butler dies at age 69 | SoulTracks - Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews". SoulTracks. April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  9. ^ "Billy Butler Dies". Soulandjazzandfunk.com. April 1, 2015. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  10. ^ Huffman, Eddie (October 25, 2012). "Iceman to bring cool sound". News & Record. Retrieved October 25, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Prominent attorney and community activist to run to replace Jerry Butler". Chicago Crusader. November 28, 2017.
  12. ^ "Stroger in denial". Chicago Tribune. May 11, 2009. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009.
  13. ^ "Jerry "Iceman" Butler re-elected Cook County Commissioner". Hyde Park Herald. March 20, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  14. ^ "The Impressions". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  15. ^ "The Impressions - Future Rock Legends". Futurerocklegends.com. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
  16. ^ "Time & Faith Review by Alex Henderson". AllMusic. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  17. ^ Fitzmaurice, Larry (May 19, 2010). "The Black Keys - Brothers". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "The Impressions". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  19. ^ Marder, Phill (October 14, 2011). "For Rock Hall of Fame, Supposed "Influence" More Important Than Mass Popularity? In 2015 Butler was inducted into National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame". Goldmine Magazine. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  20. ^ a b c "Jerry Butler - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2022.

Bibliography

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