Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
They called Jerry Butler the “Iceman” for his cool, velvety voice. But the world-renowned singer, songwriter, producer, and lifelong Chicagoan embodied that moniker in more ways than one.
A towering figure in music and public service, Butler built a career that spanned seven decades. He later served as a Cook County Commissioner for over 30 years, cementing his legacy beyond the stage. He passed away at his Chicago home on Thursday night after battling Parkinson’s disease, according to multiple reports. He was 85.
Born in Sunflower, Mississippi, Butler was a child of the Great Migration. His family moved to Chicago when he was three, and he grew up in Cabrini-Green. As a Washburne Vocational High School student, he trained under a Swiss chef and planned to become a restaurant manager. But fate had other plans.
After his father died in 1954, Butler took a job at the Lawson YMCA, working as a busboy and dishwasher before earning a promotion to assistant chef. He graduated from Washburne as valedictorian in 1957. Despite his love of music, he avoided high school music classes.
“I love to sing and did most of my singing in church choirs and anywhere that was outside of school,” he told The Chicago Defender in 1973. “I did not take the music classes in my junior and senior years because I could not see the relevance of being taught songs like ‘Old Black Joe.’ To me, the teaching methods did not seem to be in step with actual ‘now’ reality.”
A Voice That Defined an Era
Music, though, remained a constant. At Chicago’s Traveling Souls Spiritualist Church, Butler met Curtis Mayfield. They rehearsed at each other’s homes, sharpening their sound. Soon, he leaned into balladry and pop singing.
In 1957, Butler and Mayfield joined brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks and Sam Gooden to form the Roosters, an R&B group that would soon become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. That same year, Butler—just 16 at the time—wrote and recorded “For Your Precious Love,” a song that became an instant classic.
Butler eventually left the group to pursue a solo career, a decision that proved transformative. He and Mayfield would go on to shape soul music in distinct but equally influential ways.
Signing with Chicago’s Vee-Jay Records in 1960, Butler’s career soared. Hits like “He Will Break Your Heart,” “Find Another Girl,” and “I’m a Telling You” climbed the charts, establishing him as a cornerstone of Chicago’s music scene.
The Gamble & Huff Years
His impact stretched beyond his hometown. After joining Mercury Records, he linked up with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, the masterminds behind the Philly soul movement. Together, they crafted The Ice Man Cometh, a landmark album that produced the No. 1 hits “Hey, Western Union Man” and “Only the Strong Survive,” along with Top Ten singles “Never Give You Up” and “Are You Happy.”
John Bush of AllMusic described the record as Gamble and Huff’s “first full-length work” and noted that their production “reached a level of maturity and elegance capable of fully complementing one of the smoothest vocalists in soul history.”
Butler continued to evolve. He built a songwriting workshop that produced hits for himself and others, including “If It’s Real What I Feel” (written by Chuck Jackson, younger brother of Rev. Jesse Jackson), “Ain’t Understanding Mellow,” and “One Night Affair,” which the O’Jays originally recorded. He also collaborated with Brenda Lee Eager on “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” later made famous by the Carpenters.
A three-time Grammy nominee and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Butler left an indelible mark on music.
Beyond the Stage: A Legacy in Politics
By the 1980s, his career took another turn—this time into politics.
Inspired by Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor, Butler successfully ran for Cook County Commissioner in 1985.
“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,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said in a statement. “His leadership as Chair of the Health and Hospitals Committee helped ensure that critical resources reached those in need.”
Butler’s wife of 60 years passed away in 2019. He is survived by his twin sons.
Full statement by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle:
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.
Jerry Butler’s 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—he was a dedicated public servant who gave over three decades of his life to the residents of Cook County. 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.
On behalf of the residents of Cook County, I extend my deepest condolences to the Butler family, and all who loved him. His voice, his service, and his unwavering commitment to our community will never be forgotten.
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