Born the in windy city of Chicago, Curtis Mayfield was the product of an impoverished family although he would go on to be one of the most successful R&B singers and song writers of all time. He would drop out of high school to become the lead singer of the group who called themselves The Impressions

Curtis Mayfield

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The Windy City

Born the in windy city of Chicago, Curtis Mayfield was the product of an impoverished family although he would go on to be one of the most successful R&B singers and song writers of all time. He would drop out of high school to become the lead singer of the group who called themselves The Impressions and then go on to a very successful solo career. He would set the 1960’s and 1979’s on fire with his style and grace singing the rhythm and blues tunes and sung in the voice of falsetto, which was not a method used by many singers.

Rise to Success

Curtis Mayfield would make his start with the group The Impressions and stay with them for many years until early 1970, when he would then embark on his own solo career. The song Super Fly would propel him into the minds and households of many

and would describe the many trials and tribulations of the urban black ghettos of the time.

He would give performances throughout the United States and his music would be used in many movies and soundtracks even to the present day. His career through the 1970’s would create an African American icon and an inspiration for many up and coming musicians of the time for both African Americans and Caucasians alike. In the 1980’s Curtis Mayfield would still see the light of success although it would take on a more limited role.

He was able to enjoy the fruits of his labor as the days of relentless touring from one town to another were mostly over. It was said by many that this would eventually catch up to Mayfield and he would later admit that he was tired. He never tired of the fame and the many fans that would greet him with applause that would rarely quit, nor the stories from other musicians that would talk about how he was their sole inspiration for beginning their careers, but the would become tired of the road.

This was the case with many musicians of his time in the fact that many were on the road sometimes almost three hundred and sixty days of the year with little breaks in between. During that time, financial outcomes were not as prevalent with musicians as they are today.

Legacy of the Present

Curtis Mayfield had some health trouble during the 1990’s. During a performance in August of 1990, Mayfield was paralyzed from the waist down to due a stage accident. A light from the Wingate Field in Flatbush fell from its track and struck him while singing at an outdoor concert. This was a tragedy; however, Mayfield would push on and continue his career, performing for his many adoring fans throughout the United States as well as across the globe.

During this time, he would come out with his last album called New World Order where it was said that the recorded the vocals line by line while laying on his back due to his debilitating accident. In 1995, Curtis would be awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Unfortunately, with all of his persistent efforts, he would later be diagnosed with diabetes and would have to have his right leg amputated because of the disease.

In 1999, Mayfield was finally inducted in to the rock n’ roll hall of fame with others of that year that would include George Martin Dusty Springfield, and Bruce Springsteen to name a few. He would perform his last show with the group Bran Van 3000 in 2001. Mayfield would pass on to the next world in December of 1999 in Georgia. He would later be cremated and the ashes are held by his ever loving family.  

Did You Know

• Mayfield was said in his younger years to shine shoes on the streets of Chicago to make money as a child.

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