The popular music world lost an icon last week. Jerry “The Iceman” Butler, the epitome of grace and elegance blended with soul, passed at 85. The longtime Chicago resident died at his home. Butler co-founded The Impressions with childhood friend Curtis Mayfield back in the ‘50s, and then became even more famous as a solo artist. He also had some songs that became staples of not only soul but American music in general, especially “For Your Precious Love” and “Only The Strong Survive.” In his later years Butler has gotten into politics. A representative for Illinois’ Cook County, which includes Chicago, mourned the passingofthe“dedicatedpublicservant,” who served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners for three decades.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jerry ‘The Iceman’ Butler, a legendary artist, dedicated public
servant, and beloved member of our Cook County community,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement shared with USA TODAY last Friday. His “contributions to music and public service are immeasurable. As a founding member of The Impressions, his distinguished voice helped shape the sound of R&B and soul, leaving an indelible mark on American music. “Jerry Butler was more than a musical icon,” Preckwinkle’s statement continued. “As a Cook County Commissioner from 1985 to 2018, he worked tirelessly to expand healthcare access, improve infrastructure, and advocate for policies that strengthened our communities. His leadership as Chair of the Health and Hospitals Committee helped ensure that critical resources reached those in need.”
Though born in Missouri, Butler’s family moved to Chicago when he was three as part of the Great Migration. The Impressions were originally called the Roosters when Butler, Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Art Brooks began in 1957. A year later they signed with the local Black-owned label Vee- Jay Records. They were renamed Jerry Butler & the Impressions, and their debut single, “For Your Precious Love,” and “Come Back My Love” proved a hit. But Butler would go solo in 1960. While the Impressions – with Fred Cash on board – went on to become the “sound of the civil rights movement” per the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Butler struck out on his own as a solo artist in 1960. That year the song “He Will Break Your Heart,” cowritten with Mayfield, made it to the number seven spot on the Billboard pop charts, and spent seven weeks in the
top spot on the R&B charts. Butler would have two other enormous crossover hits, the Betty Everett duet “Let It Be Me,” a cover of the Everly Brothers duet and his collaboration with songwriters Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff “Only the Strong Survive.” Both were Top 10 pop hits, and the later was eventually covered by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Presley and Rod Stewart among others. Overall, Butler had 38 songs reach the top 100.
He got his trademark “The Iceman” nickname” reportedly from Philadelphia- based DJ Georgie Woods. While later a fulltime politician, Butler never stopped performing. Both he and the other Impressions were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
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