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| A few months ago, I had the honor of interviewing the R&B, Pop Legend, Ms. Dee Dee Sharp. When I asked her who her favorite male singing partner was, she answered, Jerry Butler.
Wow, I thought. It was amazing sitting here chatting with Ms. Dee Dee and when she mentioned that name, "Jerry Butler", it took me back to my childhood in New York City, East/Spanish Harlem.
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| The music fabric on the background of my life was not only the Motown Sound but also the Philadelphia Sound and also the Chicago Sound.
The Supremes, the Four Tops, The Temptations, to Dee Dee Sharp, Jerry Butler, to the Staples Singers, The Impressions….but wait a minute, wasn't Jerry Butler part of "the Impressions", Mr. Curtis Mayfield and the sound of Chicago?
After a friend of mine came across some music recorded by Mr. Butler, he asked if I would do an article on this extremely, unique, gifted brother of color. No one sounds like him. What makes him so different?
His soft and strong sensitive deep baritone singing voice, captured all that heard it. Jerry Butler (Jr.) was born in Sunflower, Mississippi on December 8, 1939.
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This is a year before my mother's birth. I fell in love with Jerry Butler's voice, he was one of my mother's favorite male singers. This was in the 1960's.
I remember my mother and her friends, sitting around the kitchen table, laughing and talking about Jerry Butler's performance at the Apollo theatre. Each lady that was present mentioned how "cool" and relaxed he was as he sang.
In time, he was known as the "Ice Man". The brother didn't even break into a sweat. Even though, his music was a part of our household, the first real memory was when he recorded, "Never Gonna Give You Up".
There was a birthday party, I had to be around 10, 11 years old and I knew at the party I would have my first slow dance. My mother taught me how to "two-step".
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| At the party, I asked, my close friend Skip's, girlfriend, Gwendolyn, to dance and on this slow record. What was I thinking? This was prior to the Jerry Springer show. You don't ask your close buddy's girl something like that.
Anyway, as I could see, the other kids were eager to run and tell that, I decided to tell Skip myself. He didn't care. Whenever I heard, "Never Gonna Give You Up", it takes me back to that moment in my childhood.
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| From that moment on as I matured, I continue to listen to Mr. Butler's music. Some of his songs spoke of the times at hand. "Only The Strong Survive", "Ain't Understanding Mellow", "Hey, Western Union Man" (Sounds of Philadelphia), and many other songs were written for the black man and black love.
Not to say that other's didn't enjoy his talent as well, but it felt wonderful to believe that his sound, his music, was written for us, for me. He, like his friend and brother, Mr. Curtis Mayfield and Mr. James Brown, were the voices of the new Afro American man and woman.
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| Jerry grew up in Chicago's Cabrini Green housing projects. Like many blacks in the 1950's, music was an escape, a way of life. He sang in church, with and where he met Curtis Mayfield. Because of their love for music and friendship and a few musical group changes, "The Impressions", the singing group was formed.
The Impressions signed with Vee-Jay Records and released their first gold hit record, written and sang lead by Mr. Jerry Butler, "For Your Precious Love". What I was surprised to discover is that Jerry co-wrote, with legend, Otis Redding, "I've Been Loving You Too Long" in 1965.
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| As a solo artist, Mr. Butler has been nominated for Grammy's, three times. He, like Dee Dee Sharp was a part of my mother's generation and then re-birthed in the 1980's, when he released disco classics, "One Night Affair" and "Coolin Out".
Other great musical projects were when he signed to "Motown" "Love On the Menu" the album is still one of my favorite's by him. No matter the label, Mr. Butler stayed true to his gift.
While with "Philadelphia International", in the 1980's, Mr. Butler produced, "Breaking and Entering" and "Easy Money" for Ms. Dee Dee Sharp. Both were huge club/dance hits. Also he wrote, "Was That All It Was" recorded by Ms. Jean Carne and this song is also featured in the blockbuster movie, "Precious".
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Another way Mr. Butler serves his public, in the 1980's, he was elected in Chicago, as "Cook County Board Commissioner" and still serves. However, he has not stopped performing, PBS TV various musical programs such as "Rock Rhythm and Doo Wop", "40 Years of R&B", and others, has employed him thought-out the years. In 1991, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".
Chicago is home for the legendary "Ice Man", along with his wife. He has two sons, and a grandson. And due to the magic of television, you can see him on any given night on PBS. The voice is like silk, still warms the heart and shakes the soul.
To you the man with a heart of gold, Thank you Mr. "Ice Man" Butler for sharing your gift with us.
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