Singer, song writer, writer, television presenter and politician Jerry Butler Jr. was born in Sunflower, Mississippi on December 8, 1939 and had a long career as a singer before becoming a politician. His family moved to Chicago when he was three, into the famous Cabrini-Green housing project. As a child he began singing in a Church Choir with his friend Curtis Mayfield. By their teens they were both singing in the gospel quartet The Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers. He was the original lead singer of The Roosters, before they were renamed The Impressions – they thought Roosters was too country – before starting a very successful solo career.
The career of The Impressions took off when Butler co-wrote the song “For Your Precious Love” and after auditioning for Chess (and being rejected) they auditioned successfully for Vee Jay, but when they received the first pressings of the single, the label credited “Jerry Butler and The Impressions” which caused some discontent within the group. The group continued to record with Vee Jay for a while, which developed a solo career for Jerry Butler as well as giving Curtis Mayfield superb opportunities to develop his own talents. Jerry Butler was also successfully teamed with singer Betty Everett for a number of duet recordings.
Shortly after starting his solo career, WDAS disc jockey Georgie Woods came up with the nickname “The Ice Man” for Butler.
Political activity called, and he served as a Democrat Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois, which encompasses Chicago, from 1985 but retired from politics in 2018.
He hosted a series of popular PBS specials celebrating the vintage stars of doo-wop, R&B and soul. Mr. Butler studied political science and music history at Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1993 and a master’s degree in 1998.
His autobiography, “Only the Strong Survive,” written with Earl Smith, was published in 2004.
Mr. Butler received an N.A.A.C.P. Image Award and a Rhythm and Blues Pioneer Award, was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015. With the other members of the Impressions, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He served for a time as chairman of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation.
Mr. Butler died with Parkinsons on 21 February 2025.
His younger Brother Billy Butler, who died in 2015, also had a successful singing and song writing career.
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