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Arts > Music > Soul > 20th century > USA > Curtis Lee Mayfield    1942-1999

 

 

 

Legendary singer Curtis Mayfield

is among the artists celebrated in “Chicago’s Golden Soul”

at Black Ensemble Theatre.

http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/the-mix-cool-things-to-do/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curtis Lee Mayfield    1942-1999

 

 Born in Chicago

on 3 June 1942,

he was 14

when he formed

The Roosters

with Arthur

and Richard Brooks

and Jerry Butler.

 

Four years later

The Roosters

became

The Impressions

and their single,

For Your Precious Love,

went to number 11

in the US.

 

Other hits followed

including Gypsy Woman,

Find Yourself Another Girl

and He Will Break Your Heart.

 

Mayfield

became known

as a civil rights hero

as well as a respected

entertainer;

 

1964's

Keep On Pushing

is credited

with broadening

the parameters

of black music

to include

a political perspective,

at a time

when it was

dominated by

love songs

and dance records.

 

He is credited

with opening the way

for James Brown

to sing Say It Loud

- I'm Black And I'm Proud

in 1968

and Marvin Gaye's

1971 hit

What's Going On.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/579113.stm

 

 

(...)

 

 

As a member

of the group

the Impressions

in the 50's and 60's

and as a solo act

in the 70's,

Mr. Mayfield

imbued his songs

with messages

of love, optimism,

unity, faith

and self-awareness.

 

He stood out

from his contemporaries

by bravely,

intelligently

and passionately

delving into racial

and political issues

in powerful

and prophetic songs

like ''We People

Who Are Darker Than Blue''

and ''Mighty Mighty

(Spade and Whitey).''

 

Beyond lyrics,

Mr. Mayfield

was a funk

and rap pioneer,

laying down

grooves

full of bongos,

bass, horns

and wah-wah guitar

that took on

a new life

when acts

in the 80's

and 90's,

like Ice-T,

Mary J. Blige

and Digable Planets,

began sampling

his music.

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/27/arts/curtis-mayfield-conscience-driven-soul-singer-dies-at-57.html

 

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/579113.stm

 

 

https://www.npr.org/2019/08/02/
745375571/curtis-mayfield-the-impressions-were-a-winner-american-anthem

 

http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/aug/05/
curtis-mayfield-10-best-soul-funk

 

http://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/27/arts/
curtis-mayfield-conscience-driven-soul-singer-dies-at-57.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related > Anglonautes > Arts

 

gospel, soul, Doo Wop, soul revival,

R&B, twist, disco, groove, funk

 

 

music

 

 

 

 

 

Related > Anglonautes > Vocapedia > Arts > Music

 

soul

 

 

gospel, blues, jazz

 

 

 

 

 

Related > Anglonautes > History

 

20th century > USA > Civil rights

 

 

WW2 > African-American soldiers

 

 

17th, 18th, 19th, 20th century

English America, America, USA

Racism, Slavery,

Abolition, Civil war,

Abraham Lincoln

 

 

17th, 18th, 19th century

English America, America, USA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related

 

Motown Records

https://www.theguardian.com/music/motown

 

 

 

 

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