# Jerry Butler

Jerry Butler Jr. (December 8, 1939 – February 20, 2025) was an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician. He was the original lead singer of the R&B vocal group the Impressions, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. After leaving the group in 1960, Butler achieved over 55 Billboard Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "He Will Break Your Heart", "Let It Be Me", and "Only the Strong Survive". He was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2015.
Butler served as a Commissioner for Cook County, Illinois, from 1985 to 2018. As a member of the 17-member county government board, he chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.

## Biography
### Early life

Butler was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, United States, on December 8, 1939. When Butler was three years old, the family moved to Chicago, Illinois, and he grew up in the Cabrini–Green housing projects. The mid-1950s had a profound effect on Butler's life. He performed in a church choir with Curtis Mayfield. As a teenager, Butler sang in a gospel quartet called Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, along with Mayfield. Mayfield, a guitar player, became the lone instrumentalist for the six-member Roosters group, which later became The Impressions. Inspired by Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, and the Pilgrim Travelers, getting into the music industry seemed inevitable.
Butler's younger brother, Billy Butler, also had a career in the music industry, including playing guitar with Jerry's band, until his death in 2015.

### Early recordings

Butler co-wrote the song "For Your Precious Love" (which is ranked No. 327 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time) and wanted to record a disc. Looking for recording studios, the Impressions (the original members of which were Butler, Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash − who left early on, and later returned − and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks), auditioned for Chess Records and Vee-Jay Records. The group eventually signed with Vee-Jay, where they released "For Your Precious Love" in 1958. It became The Impressions' first hit and gold record.

### Solo career

Butler was first given the nickname "Iceman" by WDAS Philadelphia disc jockey, Georgie Woods, while performing in a Philadelphia theater. He released the single "He Will Break Your Heart" in 1960, and the song peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard pop chart. Butler co-wrote, with Otis Redding, the latter's hit song "I've Been Loving You Too Long" in 1965. Butler's solo career saw a string of hits, including the Top 10 successes "He Will Break Your Heart", "Find Another Girl", "I'm A-Telling You" (all co-written by fellow Impression Curtis Mayfield and featuring Mayfield as harmony vocal), the million selling "Only the Strong Survive", "Moon River", "Need To Belong" (recorded with the Impressions after he went solo), "Make It Easy on Yourself", "Let It Be Me" (with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me", "Ain't Understanding Mellow" (with Brenda Lee Eager), "Hey, Western Union Man", and "Never Give You Up".
His 1969 "Moody Woman" release became a Northern Soul favourite and featured at number 369 in the Northern Soul Top 500. Butler released two successful albums, The Ice Man Cometh (1968) and Ice on Ice (1969). He collaborated on many of his successful recordings with the Philadelphia-based songwriting team of Gamble and Huff. In 1972, he had a small role in the cult classic film The Thing with Two Heads as a prison guard. With Motown, in 1976 and 1977, Butler produced and co-produced (with Paul David Wilson) two albums: Suite for the Single Girl and It All Comes Out in My Song.
In 1975, the pop group Tony Orlando and Dawn covered Butler's 1960 song "He Will Break Your Heart", with a new title, "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)", and it was more successful than Butler's original (#7), peaking at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

### 1980s–2018

Butler continued to perform while serving as a Cook County Board Commissioner from 1985, before retiring from public office in 2018. As Cook County Commissioner, Butler voted to uphold a historic 2008 Cook County sales tax increase, which remains the highest in the nation. As a result, the Chicago Tribune encouraged people to vote against him in the 2010 elections. Butler, however, won reelection in March 2014 with over 80 percent of the vote.
He later served as host of PBS TV music specials such as Doo Wop 50 and 51, Rock Rhythm and Doo Wop, and Soul Spectacular: 40 years of R&B, among others. He also served as chairman of the board of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Butler was inducted, along with the other original members of the Impressions (Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, and Arthur and Richard Brooks), into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Butler released Time & Faith in 1992.
The Hives covered "Find Another Girl" on their 2000 album Veni Vidi Vicious. The Black Keys covered "Never Give You Up" on their 2010 album, Brothers.

### Personal life and death

His wife Annette, originally one of his backup singers, died in 2019.
After his 1991 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Impressions, some music writers and critics stated that Butler also deserved a second induction as a solo artist, based upon his successful career as a recording artist and songwriter after leaving that group.
Butler died from the effects of Parkinson's disease at his home in Chicago, on February 20, 2025, at the age of 85.

## Discography
### Singles

| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Chart positions | Album |
| Year | Single (A-side, B-side) | US | US R&B | US AC | CAN (CHUM RPM) | Album |
| 1958 | "For Your Precious Love" b/w "Sweet Was the Wine" (from He Will Break Your Heart) Both tracks with The Impressions | 11 | 3 | — | 18 | Jerry Butler, esq. |
| 1958 | "Come Back My Love" b/w "Love Me" (from Aware of Love) Both tracks with The Impressions | — | 29 | — | — | Jerry Butler, esq. |
| 1959 | "Lost" b/w "One By One" (from Aware of Love) | — | 17 | — | — | Jerry Butler, esq. |
| 1959 | "I Was Wrong" b/w "Couldn't Go to Sleep" (from Aware of Love) | — | — | — | — | Jerry Butler, esq. |
| 1960 | "A Lonely Soldier" b/w "I Found a Love" | — | 25 | — | — | He Will Break Your Heart |
| 1960 | "He Will Break Your Heart" b/w "Thanks to You" | 7 | 1 | — | 9 | He Will Break Your Heart |
| 1960 | "Silent Night" b/w "O Holy Night" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1961 | "Find Another Girl" b/w "When Trouble Calls" | 27 | 10 | — | 13 | Aware of Love |
| 1961 | "I'm a Telling You" b/w "I See a Fool" | 25 | 8 | — | — | Aware of Love |
| 1961 | "Moon River" | 11 | 14 | 3 | 14 | Need to Belong |
| 1961 | "Aware of Love" | 105 | — | — | — | Aware of Love |
| 1962 | "Isle of Sirens" b/w "Chi Town" (from Jerry Butler, esq.) | — | — | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1962 | "Make It Easy on Yourself" b/w "It's Too Late" (non-album track) | 20 | 18 | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1962 | "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)" b/w "I'm the One" (non-album track) | 63 | 23 | — | | Need to Belong |
| 1962 | "Theme from Taras Bulba (The Wishing Star)" b/w "You Go Right Through Me" (from Jerry Butler, esq.) | 100 | — | — | — | Non-album track |
| 1963 | "Whatever You Want" b/w '"You Won't Be Sorry" (Non-album track) | 68 | — | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1963 | "I Almost Lost My Mind" b/w "Strawberries" (from Need to Belong) | — | — | — | — | Non-album track |
| 1963 | "Where's the Girl" b/w "How Beautifully You Lie" | — | — | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1963 | "A Woman With Soul" b/w "Just a Little Bit" (from More of the Best of Jerry Butler) | — | — | — | — | Non-album track |
| 1963 | "Need to Belong" b/w "Give Me Your Love" (from He Will Break Your Heart) | 31 | * | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1964 | "Giving Up on Love" b/w "I've Been Trying" (non-album track) | 56 | * | — | — | Need to Belong |
| 1964 | "I Stand Accused" | 61 | * | — | — | More of the Best of Jerry Butler |
| 1964 | "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" | 95 | * | — | — | More of the Best of Jerry Butler |
| 1964 | "Let It Be Me" (with Betty Everett) / | 5 | * | — | 28 | Delicious Together |
| 1964 | "Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby" (with Betty Everett) | 108 | * | — | — | Delicious Together |
| 1964 | "Smile" b/w "Love Is Strange" (from Delicious Together) Both tracks with Betty Everett | 42 | * | — | — | More of the Best of Jerry Butler |
| 1965 | "Good Times" b/w "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" | 64 | 33 | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1965 | "Since I Don't Have You" b/w "Just Be True" Both tracks with Betty Everett | — | — | — | — | Delicious Together |
| 1965 | "I Can't Stand to See You Cry" b/w "Nobody Needs Your Love (More Than I Do)" | 122 | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1965 | "Just for You" b/w "Believe in Me" (from The Impressions With Jerry Butler) | — | 33 | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1966 | "For Your Precious Love" (re-recording) b/w "Give It Up" (non-album track) | — | 25 | — | — | Love Me |
| 1966 | "Love (Oh, How Sweet It Is)" b/w "Loneliness" (from The Best of Jerry Butler (Mercury)) | 103 | 34 | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1966 | "You Make Me Feel Like Someone" b/w "For What You Made of Me" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1966 | "I Dig You Baby" b/w "Some Kinda Magic" | 60 | 8 | — | — | Soul Artistry |
| 1967 | "You Walked Into My Life" b/w "Why Did I Lose You" | — | — | — | — | Soul Artistry |
| 1967 | "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It" b/w "The Way I Love You (Nobody Ever Loved Anybody)" (from Mr. Dream Merchant) | — | — | — | — | Soul Artistry |
| 1967 | "Mr. Dream Merchant" b/w "Cause I Love You So" (Non-album track) | 38 | 23 | — | 45 | Mr. Dream Merchant |
| 1967 | "Lost" b/w "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It" (from Soul Artistry) | 62 | 48 | — | — | Mr. Dream Merchant |
| 1968 | "Never Give You Up" b/w "Beside You" (from Mr. Dream Merchant) | 20 | 7 | — | 16 | The Ice Man Cometh |
| 1968 | "Hey, Western Union Man" b/w "Just Can't Forget About You" | 16 | 1 | — | 15 | The Ice Man Cometh |
| 1968 | "Are You Happy" b/w "(Strange) I Still Love You" | 39 | 9 | — | 19 | The Ice Man Cometh |
| 1969 | "Only the Strong Survive" b/w "Just Because I Really Love You" | 4 | 1 | — | 4 | The Ice Man Cometh |
| 1969 | "Moody Woman" b/w "Go Away, Find Yourself" (from The Ice Man Cometh) | 24 | 3 | — | 17 | Ice On Ice |
| 1969 | "What's the Use of Breaking Up" / | 20 | 4 | — | 25 | Ice On Ice |
| 1969 | "A Brand New Me" | 109 | — | — | — | Ice On Ice |
| 1969 | "Don't Let Love Hang You Up" b/w "Walking Around in Teardrops" | 44 | 12 | — | 44 | Ice On Ice |
| 1970 | "Got to See If I Can Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)" b/w "I Forgot to Remember" | 62 | 21 | — | — | Ice On Ice |
| 1970 | "I Could Write a Book" b/w "Since I Lost You Lady" (from Ice on Ice) | 46 | 15 | — | 48 | You & Me |
| 1970 | "Where Are You Going" b/w "You Can Fly" | 95 | 42 | — | — | "Joe" -- Original Soundtrack |
| 1970 | "Special Memory" b/w "How Does It Feel" | 109 | 36 | — | — | Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives |
| 1971 | "You Just Can't Win (By Making the Same Mistakes)" b/w "Sho Is Grooving" Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler) | 94 | 32 | — | — | Gene & Jerry -- One & One |
| 1971 | "Ten and Two (Take This Woman Off the Corner)" b/w "Everybody Is Waiting" Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler) | 126 | 44 | — | — | Gene & Jerry -- One & One |
| 1971 | "If It's Real What I Feel" b/w "Why Are You Leaving Me" | 69 | 8 | — | — | Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives |
| 1971 | "Ain't Understanding Mellow" (with Brenda Lee Eager) b/w "Windy City Soul" | 21 | 3 | — | — | The Sagittarius Movement |
| 1971 | "How Did We Lose It Baby" b/w "Do You Finally Need a Friend" | 85 | 38 | — | — | Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives |
| 1971 | "Walk Easy My Son" b/w "Let Me Be" | 93 | 33 | — | — | The Sagittarius Movement |
| 1972 | "I Only Have Eyes for You" b/w "A Prayer" | 85 | 20 | — | — | The Spice Of Life |
| 1972 | "Close to You" b/w "You Can't Always Tell" Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager | 91 | 6 | — | — | The Spice Of Life |
| 1972 | "One Night Affair" b/w "Life's Unfortunate Sons" (from You & Me) | 52 | 6 | — | — | The Spice Of Life |
| 1973 | "Can't Understand It" b/w "How Long Will It Last" Both sides with Brenda Lee Eager | — | 26 | — | — | The Love We Have, The Love We Had |
| 1973 | "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind" b/w "Were We Lovers, Were We Friends" Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager | — | 64 | — | — | The Love We Have, The Love We Had |
| 1973 | "Power of Love" b/w "What Do You Do on a Sunday Afternoon" | — | 15 | — | — | Power of Love |
| 1974 | "That's How Heartaches Are Made" b/w "Too Many Danger Signs" | — | 58 | — | — | Power of Love |
| 1974 | "Take The Time to Tell Her" b/w "High Stepper" | — | 46 | — | — | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1974 | "Playing On You" b/w "You and Me Against the World" | — | 33 | — | — | Sweet Sixteen |
| 1976 | "The Devil in Mrs. Jones" b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded" | — | 55 | — | — | Love's on the Menu |
| 1977 | "I Wanna Do It To You" b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded" (from Love's on the Menu) | 51 | 7 | — | — | Suite for the Single Girl |
| 1977 | "Chalk It Up" b/w "I Don't Want Nobody to Know" (from Love's on the Menu) | — | 28 | — | — | Suite for the Single Girl |
| 1977 | "It's a Lifetime Thing" b/w "Kiss Me Now" (Non-album track) Both tracks with Thelma Houston) | — | 55 | — | — | Thelma & Jerry |
| 1978 | "(I'm Just Thinking About) Cooling Out" b/w "Are You Lonely Tonight" | — | 14 | — | — | Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You |
| 1979 | "Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You" b/w "I'm Glad to Be Back" | — | 86 | — | — | Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You |
| 1979 | "Let's Make Love" b/w "Dream World" | — | — | — | — | Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You |
| 1980 | "The Best Love I Ever Had" b/w "Would You Mind" | — | 49 | — | — | The Best Love |
| 1980 | "Don't Be an Island" (with Debra Henry) b/w "The Best Love I Ever Had" (Slow version) | — | 75 | — | — | The Best Love |
| 1982 | "No Love Without Changes" b/w "All the Way" | — | 83 | — | — | Ice 'N Hot |
| 1983 | "In My Life" (with Patti Austin) B-side by Patti Austin: "What's At the End of a Rainbow" | — | 92 | — | — | Non-album track |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. * denotes that the R&B chart did not published during the chart runs of these singles. |||||||