Complex sentence: Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3,1942--December 26,1999) was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, who is regarded as a driving force behind soul and politically conscious African-American music.
Split into simpler sentences: Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3,1942--December 26,1999) was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Mayfield is regarded as a driving force behind soul and of politically conscious African-American music.