Jerry Butler

A popular Chicago, Illinois-based soul star of the 1960s, Jerry Butler – born December 8, 1939 - released over 50 albums of smooth, timeless pop, scored a string of R&B hits, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. Nicknamed The Iceman because of his ice-cool delivery, he sang in the same choir as Curtis Mayfield in the 1950s and the pair went on to form gospel harmony group The Roosters, who evolved into The Impressions. Jerry Butler penned their classic “For Your Precious Love” at the age of 16, but left the group in 1960 to score the solo hit “He Will Break Your Heart” and co-wrote Otis Redding's breakthrough single “I've Been Loving You Too Long.” As one of the voices which helped shape early soul music, Jerry Butler's US hits included “Moon River,” “Let It Be Me,” “Hey, Western Union Man,” and the million selling “Only the Strong Survive,” while classic album The Iceman Cometh (1968) received three Grammy Award nominations. His 1969 single “Moody Woman” was later adopted as an anthem of the British Northern Soul scene and, though his success subsided in the 1980s, Jerry Butler - who became a politician serving as a commissioner for Cook County, Illinois - remained an influential figure, revered for being one of the first soul stars to voice political and socially conscious lyrics. His later albums included Time & Faith (1992), Simply Beautiful (1994), and Brand New Me (2001).  Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Jerry Butler died on February 20, 2025, at the age of 85.