Curtis Mayfield
Sign in to saveAmerican singer-songwriter (1942–1999)
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1942-06-03
- Died
- 1999-12-26
- Works
- 7
Top works
- Best of Curtis Mayfield
- Best of Curtis Mayfield Songbook
- It's All Right
- Curtis Mayfield Guitar Songbook
- Millennium funk party
via Open Library + Wikidata
Film & TV
Acting · Chicago, Illinois, USA
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, and one of the most influential musicians behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.
Known for
- The Makings of Curtis Mayfield2025
- One-Hit Wonders at the BBC: Volume Two — Self (archive footage)2024
- 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything — Self (archive footage)2021
- Kings of Soul — Self (archive footage)2015
- Movin' on Up: The Music and Message of Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions — Self (archive footage)2008
- Classic Soul at the BBC — Self (archive footage)2007
- Curtis Mayfield - Live at Montreux 1987 — Self2004
- Guitar Heroes: In Concert — Self2003
- BaadAsssss Cinema — Self2002
- Curtis Mayfield: Live at Ronnie Scott's — Self2001
via TMDB
Listeners · Last.fm
- Listeners
- 1,469,708
- Total plays
- 20,888,285
Tags
soulfunk70srhythm and bluesrnb
Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American soul, funk and rhythm and blues, singer-songwriter and guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. Mayfield is probably best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions and for the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly. Perhaps because he didn't cross over to the pop audience as heavily as Motown's stars, it may be that the scope of Curtis Mayfield's talents and contributions have yet to be fully recognized. <a href="https
Recent publications · Crossref
5 total works indexed
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via Crossref · CC0
Quotes
- “Our purpose is to educate as well as to entertain. Painless preaching is as good a term as any for what we do. If you're going to come away from a party singing the lyrics of a song, it is better that you sing of self-pride like 'We're a Winner' instead of 'Do the Boo-ga-loo!'”
- “He don't love you like I love youIf he did, he wouldn't break your heartHe don't love you like I love youHe's try-in' to tear us apart.”
- “People get ready there's a train comin';You don't need no baggage, just get on board.All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin';You don't need no ticket, just thank the lord.”
- “He says don't worry, worry, worry, worry.But they don't know,There can be no show.And if there's a hell below,We're all gonna go, go, go, go, go.”
- “Hush now child and don't you cry;Your folks might understand you by and by.Move on up towards your destination;You may find from time to time,Complications.”
- “We'll all turn blackSo who's to know?As a matter of fact,Color, creed and breed must go.There will be no light,So there can be no sight.And you'll judge your fellow man;Understand bout what is right.A million music, a million soundThere's neutral thoughtsFor the underground.”
via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA
Key facts
- Born
- Curtis Lee Mayfield , ( 1942-06-03 ) June 3, 1942, Chicago, Illinois , U.S.
- Died
- December 26, 1999 (1999-12-26) (aged 57), Roswell, Georgia , U.S.
- Genres
- Soul R&B funk progressive soul gospel psychedelic soul
- Occupations
- Singer-songwriter guitarist record producer
- Instruments
- Vocals guitar piano keyboards
- Works
- Curtis Mayfield discography
- Years active
- 1956–1999
- Labels
- Curtom Warner Bros. Rhino
- Formerly of
- The Impressions
- Website
- https://www.curtismayfield.com/
via Wikipedia infobox
Key dates
- Born
- 3 June 1942
- Died
- 26 December 1999
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Chicago
- Place of death
- Roswell
- Occupation
- musician
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Native language
- English language
- Genre
- funk
Article
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the Gentle Genius, he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious African-American music. Mayfield first achieved success and recognition with the vocal group the Impressions during the civil rights movement of the late 1950s and the 1960s, and later worked as a solo artist.
Mayfield started his musical career in a gospel choir. Moving to the North Side of Chicago, he met Jerry Butler in 1956 at the age of 14 and joined the Impressions. The group's lead singer and primary songwriter, Mayfield became noted as one of the first musicians to bring more prevalent themes of social awareness into soul music. In 1965, he wrote "People Get Ready" for the Impressions, which was ranked No. 24 in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004. The song received numerous other awards; it was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll", and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
Gallery (2)
Connections
Categories
1942 births1999 deaths20th-century African-American male singers20th-century American guitarists20th-century American male singers20th-century American singersAfrican-American guitaristsAfrican-American male singer-songwritersAmerican amputeesAmerican countertenorsAmerican funk guitaristsAmerican funk singers