Jerry Butler, the legendary American soul singer and songwriter was the original lead singer of the famed R&B vocal group, The Impressions, as well as a 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. Butler will be at the Newberry Opera House on Sept. 16 at 3 p.m.
Butler is also an American politician serves as a Commissioner for Cook County, Ill., having first been elected in 1985. As a member of this 17-member county board, he chairs the Health and Hospitals Committee, and serves as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee. Butler was born in Sunflower, Miss.
Butler 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) which became The Impressions’ first hit and gold record.
Butler was dubbed the “Iceman” by WDAS Philadelphia disc jockey, Georgie Woods, while performing in a Philadelphia theater.
He co-wrote, with Otis Redding, the song “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” in 1965 and continued a string of hits, including the top 10 successes “He Will Break Your Heart,” “Find Another Girl,” “I’m A-Telling You” (all 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.”
Butler released two successful albums, The Ice Man Cometh (1968) and Ice On Ice (1970). The Ice Man Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations.
The Iceman comes to Newberry on Sept. 16 at 3 p.m.
For tickets and reservations please call the Newberry Opera House Box Office or visit online at www.newberryoperahouse.com
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