MUSICAL ROOTS
CURTIS MAYFIELD
Widely regarded as a pioneer of funk and a leader of politically conscious African-American music. Curtis Mayfield is among an elite few members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who has been inducted twice. The first time was with The Impressions in 1991, the second as a solo artist in 1999.
His solo career, which began in 1970, is significant because of the outspoken way in which he addressed issues of black identity and self-awareness. Mayfield’s ability to be heard through funky, uplifting music has solidified him as one of soul music’s greatest icons.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 3, 1942, Mayfield formed The Impressions in 1958. They wrote tender love ballads alongside candid songs dealing with social and political equality. Bob Marley would later use pieces of Mayfield’s lyrics from 1965’s “People Get Ready” for his reggae classic “One Love”. The Impressions tallied a total of 14 Top 40 hits in the 1960s, five of which made the Top 20 in 1964 alone, before Mayfield left to begin his solo career.
Mayfield’s first few songs carried a harder, funk driven sound, on “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Gonna Go” he confronted ghetto life with a realism rarely heard before. Recording on a noticeably parallel path with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, Mayfield’s second solo album, 1971’s “Roots” cried out urgent pleas of peace and brotherhood over a musical backdrop of cinematic soul-funk, creating songs that spelled out a fresh new musical agenda for the new decade. “Superfly”, his soundtrack to a 1972 blaxploitation film was his first album to hit number 1. Tales of drug deals, shootings and death were all described in sharp detail. Yet Mayfield’s amazing ability to add a graceful strength with his joyous falsetto vocals, uplifting melodies and fabulous funk-pop arrangements made “Superfly” one on Mayfield’s greatest works.
Mayfield now sat alongside soul music’s elite not only as a singer and musician but also as a producer and songwriter, working with greats such as Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers and Gladys Knight & The Pips. He continued to score some R&B hits in the early 80s, mostly in the disco-vein, but was never able to reach the success he garnered with “Superfly”.
A freak accident at a concert in Brooklyn, NY left Mayfield paralyzed from the neck down. This tragedy did not diminish his spirit or end his career. In 1996, he released his 25th and final solo album, “New World Order”. Despite his positive attitude and will to survive, his health steadily deteriorated and he died in 1999 at the age of 57. In the words of Aretha Franklin, “Curtis Mayfield is to soul music what Bach was to classics and Gershwin and Irving Berlin were to pop music”. - By Davin Bujalski
To learn more about the Musical Roots of Curtis Mayfield:
Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Mayfield
Music: “Roots”, 1971, Curtom/Rhino Records
“Curtis Live”, 1971, Curtom Records
“Superfly”, 1972, Curtom Records
“Anthology 1961-1977, MCA Records
Widely regarded as a pioneer of funk and a leader of politically conscious African-American music. Curtis Mayfield is among an elite few members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame who has been inducted twice. The first time was with The Impressions in 1991, the second as a solo artist in 1999.
His solo career, which began in 1970, is significant because of the outspoken way in which he addressed issues of black identity and self-awareness. Mayfield’s ability to be heard through funky, uplifting music has solidified him as one of soul music’s greatest icons.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 3, 1942, Mayfield formed The Impressions in 1958. They wrote tender love ballads alongside candid songs dealing with social and political equality. Bob Marley would later use pieces of Mayfield’s lyrics from 1965’s “People Get Ready” for his reggae classic “One Love”. The Impressions tallied a total of 14 Top 40 hits in the 1960s, five of which made the Top 20 in 1964 alone, before Mayfield left to begin his solo career.
Mayfield’s first few songs carried a harder, funk driven sound, on “(Don’t Worry) If There’s A Hell Below, We’re All Gonna Go” he confronted ghetto life with a realism rarely heard before. Recording on a noticeably parallel path with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”, Mayfield’s second solo album, 1971’s “Roots” cried out urgent pleas of peace and brotherhood over a musical backdrop of cinematic soul-funk, creating songs that spelled out a fresh new musical agenda for the new decade. “Superfly”, his soundtrack to a 1972 blaxploitation film was his first album to hit number 1. Tales of drug deals, shootings and death were all described in sharp detail. Yet Mayfield’s amazing ability to add a graceful strength with his joyous falsetto vocals, uplifting melodies and fabulous funk-pop arrangements made “Superfly” one on Mayfield’s greatest works.
Mayfield now sat alongside soul music’s elite not only as a singer and musician but also as a producer and songwriter, working with greats such as Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers and Gladys Knight & The Pips. He continued to score some R&B hits in the early 80s, mostly in the disco-vein, but was never able to reach the success he garnered with “Superfly”.
A freak accident at a concert in Brooklyn, NY left Mayfield paralyzed from the neck down. This tragedy did not diminish his spirit or end his career. In 1996, he released his 25th and final solo album, “New World Order”. Despite his positive attitude and will to survive, his health steadily deteriorated and he died in 1999 at the age of 57. In the words of Aretha Franklin, “Curtis Mayfield is to soul music what Bach was to classics and Gershwin and Irving Berlin were to pop music”. - By Davin Bujalski
To learn more about the Musical Roots of Curtis Mayfield:
Online: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Mayfield
Music: “Roots”, 1971, Curtom/Rhino Records
“Curtis Live”, 1971, Curtom Records
“Superfly”, 1972, Curtom Records
“Anthology 1961-1977, MCA Records
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