Jerry Butler, a celebrated soul singer whose velvety baritone contributed to timeless tracks like “For Your Precious Love,” “Only the Strong Survive,” and “Make It Easy On Yourself,” has passed away at 85 years old.
His niece, Yolanda Goff, revealed that he succumbed to Parkinson’s disease at his home in Chicago. Butler, a long-time resident of the city, had an impressive career that included serving as a Cook County board commissioner while continuing to perform on weekends. He was affectionately known as the “Ice Man,” a nickname that reflected his laid-back style in the music scene.
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a three-time Grammy Award nominee, Butler was synonymous with the soulful music from both Chicago and Philadelphia. He gained fame as part of the Chicago-based group the Impressions, co-founded with childhood friend Curtis Mayfield. He was the lead vocalist on “For Your Precious Love,” a powerful ballad that established his career at a young age. In the late 1960s, Butler collaborated with the Philadelphia duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, crafting hits such as “Only the Strong Survive” and “Hey Western Union Man.” His albums, including “Ice on Ice” and “The Ice Man Cometh,” are influential in shaping the sound of Philadelphia soul music.
Butler was also a gifted songwriter, collaborating with Otis Redding on “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” a song that became one of Redding’s classics. He worked with Gamble and Huff on several tracks, including “He Will Break Your Heart” and “Never Give You Up.” His lyrics often reflected his personal experiences, expressing the complexities of fleeting relationships. In a 1969 interview with Rolling Stone, he shared insights into the romantic entanglements he witnessed while touring.
Born to sharecropper parents in Mississippi, Butler’s family relocated to Chicago when he was just three years old during the massive migration of African Americans from the South. His early exposure to various musical genres eventually led him to the Traveling Souls Spiritualist Church, a place where he honed his singing talents under the guidance of Rev. A.B. Mayfield, whose grandson, Curtis Mayfield, became his lifelong collaborator.
In 1958, Butler recorded “For Your Precious Love” with the Impressions for Vee-Jay Records. The label, eager to promote Butler as an individual talent, caused a rift within the group, pushing him towards a successful solo career. Butler noted in his memoir “Only the Strong Survive” that fame altered the perceptions of those around him more than it changed him.
One of his early solo breakthroughs came in 1961 with his cover of “Moon River,” which gained chart success but would later be closely associated with Andy Williams, a development Butler resented. His subsequent hits included “He Will Break Your Heart” and “Find Another Girl,” many of which showcased his collaborations with Mayfield.
Even as music trends shifted in the late 1960s, Butler adapted to the evolving soundscape of Philadelphia soul, quickly producing hits with Gamble and Huff. He recalled the dynamic creative process that allowed them to write soulful songs in record time.
By the 1980s, as his music career waned, Butler turned his focus toward politics. Motivated by the election of Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, he ran successfully for a seat on the Cook County Board in 1985, where he was re-elected several times despite facing criticism for a controversial tax increase. Butler retired from public service in 2018.
Butler shared a 60-year marriage with Annette Smith, who passed away in 2019, and together they raised twin sons. Throughout his life, Butler sought to assist fellow musicians who faced hardships, and he led the Rhythm & Blues Foundation, advocating for benefits for artists in the music industry. Looking back on his achievements, Butler considered himself fortunate, even as he acknowledged some financial decisions, including passing on a stake in Gamble and Huff’s recording enterprise.
Reflecting on his life in a 2011 interview, he expressed a sense of contentment with his path, noting that wealth isn’t just about money but also about wisdom in financial choices. “Did I make 40, 50 million dollars? No. Did I keep one or two? Yes. The old guys on the street used to say, ‘It’s not how much you make. It’s how much you keep,'” he remarked, underscoring his values.
