Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield (1942-1999) was an influential American singer-songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the leader of the influential soul group The Impressions during the 1960s. With his dazzling melodic lines and heartfelt lyrical messages, Curtis Mayfield set a powerful social and musical precedent that influenced countless musicians and his impact is still felt today.
The product of Chicago's south side, Curtis Mayfield began his career singing in church choirs and learned to play guitar from his mother. By the time he was 17 years old, he had formed his first group, the Alphatones, ushering in a long career of electric soulful music. He scored his first hit in 1961 with "Gypsy Woman" a single released by The Impressions, a group in which he served as leader and chief songwriter. Funkadelic, Mayfield's landmark funk album from 1970, was co-produced by Johnny Pate and carries a less-conscious lyrical message which gives an insightful snapshot of the early 70s while still serving up powerful, groove-focused grooves.
The iconic soundtrack he wrote and released for the 1972 blaxploitation movie "Superfly" proved to be his masterpiece and Mayfield went on to release a number of solo albums, including the Grammy-nominated "Short Eyes" in 1977, "Heartbeat", "Do It All Night" and the chart-topping "Give, Get, Take and Have".
Curtis Mayfield's work inspired a number of soul singers and future hip hop producers, including Jay-Z and R. Kelly, and his influence can be heard in much of the modern music today.