Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Mayfield born the June 3rd 1942 dead the December 26th 1999, is singer, author and type-setter of Soul, Funk, R&B, mainly known for the original soundtrack of film of Blaxploitation Superfly.

Biography

It forms first of all part of the group The Impressions then it launches out successfully in a career solo. It becomes probably the first of the new wave of singers Afro-Americans to introduce comments in social matter into its songs. This committed music becomes very popular for this period of social difficulties of the Sixties and Seventies.

The career of Mayfield begins in 1956 when it forms The Roosters with Jerry Butler, Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks and his brother Arthur Brooks. Into 1958, the group changes name and becomes The Impressions, it is from there that success arrives. Both principal hits of the group are For Your Precious Love and Gypsy Woman . After the departure of Butler of the group and arrived of Fred Cash, Curtis becomes the principal singer and frequently composes for the group. Their title of gospel Amen is included in the original soundtrack of the film Lilies off the Fields (1963) with Sidney Poitier. The acquirènt Impressions then a great popularity thanks to the compositions of Curtis like Keep One Pushin' , People Get Ready , Choice off Colors or This is My Country . The title We' Re has Winner becomes the anthem of the Black Power and Keep One Pushing that of the Mouvement of the civic rights to the United States. Mayfield then becomes one of the pioneers of the black pride at the side of James Brown or Sly Stone. In 1970, Curtis Mayfield leaves the group and begins its career solo under the independent label Curtom Records (label having gathered many artists drunk person).

The apogee of its career is reached in 1972, with the album Superfly, original soundtrack of the film of the same name. The words of this album are very committed and evoke the policy of the government towards the black community, the state of the Ghetto S, the words ever heard hitherto in a film of Blaxploitation whose original soundtracks (as that of Shaft by Isaac Hayes) rather had as a practice of glorifier the heroes with very their excesses. Bob Donat of the magazine Rolling Stone will say " besides; the anti-drug message of Mayfield is much more extremely actually than film him-même". With the album " What' S going On" of Marvin Gaye and the album " In; of Stevie Wonder, Superfly becomes the standard of a new social conscience and that of the new style funky.

Mayfield is very active during the Seventies and Eighties, followed by a faithful public, but very abruptly stops on August 14th 1990 when, during a concert with Brooklyn, a projector falls to him above and returns it paralyzed. From this moment, it will not be able to play any more of guitar, but it will continue to write and sing. In 1998 it must be amputee of a leg due to the diabetes, and its worsening state, it dies on December 26th 1999 with Roswell in Georgia.

Discography

Curtis (1970)
Curtis Live (1971)
Roots (1971)
Superfly (1972)
Back to the World (1973)
Curtis in Chicago (1973)
Sweet Exorcist (1974)
Got to Find has Way (1974)
There' S No Places Like America Today (1975)
Give, Get, Take and Have (1976)
Never Say You Can' T Survive (1977)
Do It All Night (1978)
Heartbeat (1979)
Something to Believe In (1980)
Coils is the Place (1981)
Honesty (1982)
We As in Peace With has Message off Coils (1985)
Live in Europe (1988)
Take It To the Streets (1990)
New World Order (1996)

Rewards

1968, The Rock'n'roll Hall off Fame' S 500 Songs that Shaped Rock'n'roll, " We' Re has Winner" .
1998, The Grammy Hall off Famed Award, " Superfly" OST
2000, National Academy off Popular Music (NAPM), Songwriters Hall off Famed

Bonds

Bob Donat, criticizes of Superfly, in Rolling Stone, November 9,1972.
Sélection of albums of Curtis Mayfield
comments of albums
Vocal Group Hall off Famed one page The Impressions (including extracts in background music)
Plus information on Curtis MAYFIELD

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