Because Curtis Mayfield failed to cross over to the pop as heavily as the Motown's stars did, his talents and contributions have not been recognized fully. Judged merely by his records alone, the man's legacy is enormous.

In the '60s, Curtis Mayfield recorded some of the finest soul vocal group as the leader of the Impressions. In the 1970s, Curtis Mayfield experienced success as a solo artist as he helped pioneer funk, and helped introduce hard-hitting urban commentary into soul music. "Gypsy Woman," "It's All Right," "People Get Ready," "Freddie's Dead," and "Superfly" are merely the most famous of his many hit records. But Curtis Mayfield isn't just a singer. He was a man ahead of his time, he sang, composed, produced and was among the first -- if not the very first -- to speak openly about African-American pride and community struggle in his compositions.

Many compare Curtis Mayfield to Smokey Robinson because of his ability to find time to write and produce many classics for other soul stars. As a songwriter and a producer, he was a key architect of Chicago soul, penning material and working on sessions by notable Windy City soulsters like Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, Major Lance, and Billy Butler. As a guitarist, Mayfield was excellent and his Latin-influenced lines were highlights of the Impressions' recordings in the '60s. During the next decade, he would toughen up his guitar work and production, incorporating some of the best features of psychedelic rock and funk.

Mayfield began his illustrious career in the early '50s as an associate of Jerry Butler. Together, they would form the Impressions in the late '50s. In 1958, the Impressions hit it big with "For Your Precious Love," and Butler, who had sung lead on the record, split to start a solo career. While keeping the Impressions together, Curtis Mayfield continued to tour and write with Butler until the Impressions were able to get their first Top 20 hit in 1961, "Gypsy Woman."

Mayfield was heavily steeped in gospel music before he entered the pop arena. The gospel and doo wop influences were seen prominently in most of his '60s work. Mayfield wasn't a staunch traditionalist, however. Although, He and the Impressions may have worked the call-and-response gospel style, his songs (romantic and otherwise) were often messages of Black pride, which reflected the increased confidence and self-determination of the African-American community. By using arrangements that employed the punchy, blaring horns and Latin-influenced rhythms that came to be trademarks of Chicago soul, Curtis Mayfield was able to show off his innovative style.

As the staff producer for the OKeh label, Mayfield was able to lend his talents to the work of other Chi-town soul singers who went on to national success. The Impressions, with Mayfield singing lead and playing guitar, had 14 Top 40 hits in the 1960s (five made the Top 20 in 1964 alone), and released some above-average albums during that period as well. The inevitable became true in 1970 when Curtis Mayfield left the Impressions and began a solo career. His first few singles were different because they boasted a harder, more funk-driven sound; singles like "(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below, We're All Gonna Go" found him confronting ghetto life with a realism that had rarely been heard on record. He hit his artistic and commercial stride as a solo artist with Superfly, which was his soundtrack to a 1972 blaxploitation film. In the music, Curtis described drug deals, ghetto shootings, the death of young Black men before their time--in penetrating detail.

The oft-moralizing material was given a graceful strength because of Mayfield's irrepressible falsetto vocals, uplifting melodies, and fabulous funk-pop arrangements. True, Superfly was a much-needed counterpoint to the sensationalistic portrayal of the film. But more important, it was his crowning achievement. At this point Mayfield, along with Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, was the foremost exponent of a new level of compelling altruism in soul.

Curtis Mayfield was greatly disappointed because he was not able to maintain the standards of Superfly in the years to come. Many believed that he'd simply reached his peak after a long climb because the rest of his '70s work didn't match the musical brilliance and lyrical subtleties that Superfly did. He managed to have a few large R&B hits in a much more conventional vein, such as "Kung Fu," "So in Love," and "Only You Babe." In the early '80s Mayfield had a couple of hits from some intermittent albums. On August 14, 1990, he became paralyzed from the neck down when a lighting rig fell on top of him at a concert in Brooklyn, NY.

In the mid '90s, a couple of tribute albums consisting of Mayfield covers appeared, with contributions by such superstars as Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Gladys Knight. These tributes are no substitute for the man himself, but they are an indication of the enormous regard in which Mayfield is still held by his peers. Curtis Mayfield died December 1999 at the age of 57.

Epilogue

The following is an excerpt from a review of Curtis Mayfield's last CD release, New World Order that was released in 1996.

From the opening track and title cut "New World Order," it is evident, it is crystal clear that Curtis Mayfield, poet laureate of song, prophet, philosopher king, social commentator/conscience, and one of the most relevant voices of the times is on the scene again with his own special kind of creative, hard-hitting, reality-checking compositions...and some great, humanity-filled, sensitive, compassionate words and music to reflect on, to live by.

Curtis who was the lead singer of the legendary Impressions, composed such classic tunes as "People Get Ready," "Moving On Up," "Keep On Pushing,"and "The Makings of You," created the sound track for the film Super Fly and has produced and recorded numerous albums. Curtis, who is highly respected by fellow creative artists, is joined on New World Order by none other than the "Queen of Soul," Miss Aretha Franklin, the mighty talented Miss Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers, rapsters extraordinaire Blaise Mayfield, Lisa Coates and Organized Noize, producer Narada Michael Walden, and Roger Mayfield.

Curtis Mayfield is a giant of an artist...an ultra creative being who has a gentle voice...an immense love of people, of humankind, an indomitable spirit, extraordinary ability to struggle, to overcome obstacles, a vast capability to inspire, lift up, a marvelous capacity for giving, caring and sharing...and a unique ability to see the bigger picture--a brighter picture. Curtis, who is keenly observant, is aware of problems, doesn't just talk, he also offers, suggests solutions as well: love and respect of self and others, commitment to loving, caring, helping and sharing.

Curtis Mayfield who is a quintessential creative artist, a lover of humanity, reaches out in song to touch, motivate, inspire us to love, share, care and do for the betterment of humankind. Curtis is a gifted, masterful creative being of the highest caliber.

The Impressions were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003.

Discography

• Curtis (1970)
  
• Curtis Live (1971)
  
• Roots (1971)
  
• Superfly (1972)
  
• Back to the World (1973)
  
• Curtis in Chicago (1973)
  
• Sweet Exorcist (1974)
  
• Got to Find a Way (1974)
  
• There's No Place Like America Today (1975)
  
• Give, Get, Take and Have (1976)
  
• Never Say You Can't Survive (1977)
  
• Do It All Night (1978)
  
• Heartbeat (1979)
  
• Something to Believe In (1980)
  
• Love is the Place (1981)
  
• Honesty (1982)
  
• We Come in Peace With a Message of Love (1985)
  
• Live in Europe (1988)
  
• Take It To the Streets (1990)
  
• New World Order (1996)

©Nokhanya (L'cinda Scott-McCall)
Duke Univeristy
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