The former leader of The Impressions throughout the 50s and 60s, Curtis Mayfield embarked on a solo career through the 70s. While his early tunes failed to get much attention, he broke big time with songs from the movie Superfly. "Freddie's Dead (Theme From "Superfly")" hit #4 in 1972 followed by "Superfly," which hit #8. Mayfield would see the top 40 twice more with "Future Shock" (#39) and "Kung Fu" (#40).
"Move On Up" is one of his early classics that never charted, but should have.
Mayfield maintained a presence on the R&B charts, even after being paralyzed from the chest down after a stage accident in 1990. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 57.
Chicago-based R&B outfit The Impressions scored their first hit in 1958 when "For Your Precious Love" hit #11. The group was billed as Jerry Butler and the Impressions at the time, but he quickly left for a solo career, leaving Curtis Mayfield (the band's lead songwriter), Sam Gooden, and the Brooks brothers to carry on without him. A string of big hits in the 60s have earned this group the 34th best chart performers for that decade, a sampling of which includes "It's All Right" (#4), "Keep On Pushing" (#10), and "Amen" (#7). Another classic, "People Get Ready" reached #14 and won a Grammy. "You've Been Cheatin'" managed to reach #33 in 1965, but probably would've done much better a few years prior. Energized by a 50s Motown beat, this is one of the peppiest songs you'll hear about suspected infidelity.
