Jerry Butler, the iconic soul singer and former lead vocalist of The Impressions, who later transitioned into a successful political career in Chicago, has died at the age of 85, per udiscovermusic.com.
Butler, who had been living with Parkinson’s disease, leaves behind a legacy that spans music and public service.
Born in Mississippi and raised in Chicago, Butler began his musical journey in a church choir. He rose to fame in the late 1950s as a member of The Impressions, co-writing their timeless hit “For Your Precious Love.” After leaving the group, he embarked on a solo career, collaborating with Philly soul pioneers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff to produce his 1962 classic album The Iceman Cometh, which featured hits like “Only the Strong Survive” and “Never Give You Up.” Butler also penned the Otis Redding classic “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” later covered by legends like Aretha Franklin and the Rolling Stones.
In the 1980s, Butler shifted his focus to politics, serving as a Cook County commissioner for nearly two decades. Fellow commissioner Larry Suffredin noted that Butler entered politics to use his voice for the greater good. Despite his civic duties, Butler’s musical achievements continued to be celebrated. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Impressions in 1991 and received the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
Tributes poured in from music icons, including Smokey Robinson, who called Butler “one of the great voices of our time.” Gamble and Huff remembered him as a “one-of-a-kind music legend.”
Butler was married to his wife Annette for 60 years until her passing in 2019. He is survived by his two sons, Randy and Anthony.
- Featured image: Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
