Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jerry Butler passed away at his Chicago home on Thursday night of undisclosed causes, as reported by a family friend to the Chicago Sun-Times. Butler, originally from Sunflower, Mississippi, began his singing career as a teenager with the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers alongside Curtis Mayfield. They later joined the soul group The Impressions, which made its mark in 1958 with the doo-wop ballad “For Your Precious Love,” a song Butler co-wrote that was named one of the 500 greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone in 2004. Joe McEwen noted that “the song could almost be considered the first soul record.” The Impressions produced several hits in the 1960s, including “People Get Ready,” “Gypsy Woman,” and “I’m So Proud,” with anthems like “It’s All Right,” “Keep On Pushing,” and “We’re A Winner” resonating during the Civil Rights Movement. After Mayfield’s departure in 1970, Butler found success as a singer-songwriter with classics such as “He Will Break Your Heart,” “Let It Be Me,” and “Only the Strong Survive.” He co-wrote “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” with Otis Redding in 1965, a track later covered by Ike & Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, and The Rolling Stones. In the 1980s, Butler entered politics, successfully running for the Cook County Board in 1985 and serving seven terms before retiring in 2018.
Mr. Butler, whose voice was stilled by Parkinson’s disease, died Thursday night at home, according to a family friend. He was 85.
Singer Jerry 'The Iceman' Butler has died at the age of 85 from natural causes after suffering from Parkinson's disease. The American soul singer-songwriter was at his home in Chicago when he died on Thursday, February 20. The news was confirmed to TMZ by his assistant, Marty who said: "An amazing man has relocated to heaven. Our loss here on earth." The star had lived in Chicago for decades with his wife Annette, who he married in 1959. She was originally one of his backup singers and died in 2019.
