Legendary R&B Singer and Chicago Politician Jerry Butler Passes Away at 85

Soul singer and politician dies

Soul singer and politician from Illinois, Jerry Butler, has passed away at the age of 85.

Family confirms his passing

The family confirmed the news to Chicago Sun-Times. Butler died in his Chicago home on Thursday (February 20). The cause of death was not disclosed, although he had been living with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Butler initially pursued a career as a chef but eventually ventured into music after meeting Curtis Mayfield in the mid-1950s, joining the early lineup of the Impressions.

He performed with the group for three years and penned their hit 1958 song “For Your Precious Love,” which reached No. 11 on the US charts that year. Following this, he departed to launch a solo career, while Mayfield remained with the group.

After his amicable exit from the Impressions, Butler continued to collaborate with Mayfield, co-writing the 1960 classic “He Will Break Your Heart” and Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”—the latter of which has been covered by artists such as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Jason Isbell, Cat Power, and the Rolling Stones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbt5fbelrs

Later on, Butler partnered with Philadelphia soul songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, paving the way for his acclaimed 1962 album “The Ice Man Cometh,” which featured hits like “Only the Strong Survive” and “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

In the 1970s, Butler embarked on a political career, ultimately becoming a Cook County Commissioner in his home state of Illinois in 1994.

His contributions to music have been widely celebrated; he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Impressions in 1991, and entered the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2015. In 2023, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments in music.

According to Chicago Sun-Times, Smokey Robinson paid tribute to Butler, calling him “one of the great voices of our time” and added, “He was a great man, and I loved him.”

Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff expressed their condolences in a joint statement to Rolling Stone: “We deeply and sincerely mourn the loss of our dear and old friend, the great Jerry Butler, known as the Iceman for his cool, smooth vocals and demeanor. He was a musical legend like no other!”