Chicago Soul

Chicago often gets a raw deal when the history  of soul is recounted.  Lacking the mystique and dramatic rise-and-fall independent-label dramas of Detroit (Motown, Memphis (Stax) and Philadelphia (Gamble-Huff''s productions), Chicago soul could compete with those cities on a level playing field and was extremely successful, producing dozens of great pop an R&B hits in the 60s and 70s.  The upbeat, hummable and inventively produced sound that characterized the city's soul records had its seeds in the gospel-pop-R&B fusion of Jerry Butler and the Impressions, plenty of other singers would make memorable records and even sustain fairly lengthy careers, without nearing the success and influence of Butler and Curtis Mayfield, leader of the Impressions. *
* Source ~ Music USA


Jerry Butler

Born on 12/8/39 in Sunflower, Mississippi. Older brother of Billy Butler.  Sang in the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers with Curtis Mayfield.  Later with the Quails.  In 1957, Butler and Mayfield joined the Roosters with Sam Gooden and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks.  Changed name to the Impressions in 1957.  Left for solo career in autumn of 1958.  Also worked as the Cook County Commissioner in Illinois. Dubbed the "Ice Man".
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Curtis Mayfield

Born on 6/3/42 in Chicago (d:12/26/99).  Singer/songwriter/producer.  With Jerry Butler in the gospel group Northern Jubilee Singers.  Joined The Impressions in 1957.  Wrote most of the hits for The Impressions, Jerry Butler and himself.  Owned labels:  Windy C, Mayfield and Curtom.  Went solo in 1970.  Scored movies Superfly, Claudine, A Piece of the Action and Short Eyes.  Appeared in Short Eyes.  Paralyzed from the chest down when a stage lighting tower fell on him before a concert on 8/13/90.


Major Lance

Born on 4/4/42 in Chicago.  Died of heart disease on 9/3/94.  Vocalist.  Former amateur boxer.  Dancer on The Jim Lounsbury and Record Hop TV shows.  Sang with The Five Gospel Harmonaires.  Member of  The Ideals.   First recorded for Mercury in 1959.  Lived in Britain from 1972-74.  Own Osiris label with Al Jackson of the MGs in 1975.  In prison from 1978-81 for selling cocaine.


Etta James

Born Jamesetta Hawkins on 1/25/38 in Los Angeles.  Nicknamed "Miss Peaches".  First recorded for Modem in 1954.  Recorded duets with Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows as Etta & Harvey.  Frequent bouts with heroin addiction; finally cured in the late 70s.  Still active into the 90s.  Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.


Fontella Bass

Born on 7/3/40 in St. Louis.  Vocalist/pianist/organist.  Mother was a member of Clara Ward Gospel Troupe.  Sang in church choirs; with Oliver Sain band, St. Louis.; with Little Milton blues show to 1964.  Married to trumpet player Lester Bowie.



Billy Stewart

Born on 3/24/37 in Washington, D.C.  Died i an auto accident on 1/17/70.  Singer/keyboardist.  Sang in family gospel group, The Stewart Singers.  In the band of his uncle, Houn' Dog Ruffin (father of The Temptations' David Ruffin; Stewart is also a cousin of The Jewels' Grace Ruffin).  Discovered by Bo Diddley in 1956.  First recorded for Chess/Argo in 1956.  Did not record from 1957-62.  Nicknamed "Fat Boy".


Ramsey Lewis

Born 5/27/35, Chicago.   Formed the Gentlemen of Swing, a jazz-oriented trio, in 1956 in Chicago.  Consisted of Ramsey, Eldee Young (bass) and Isaac "Red" Holt (drums).  All had been in The Clefts in the early 50s. First recorded for Chess/Argo in 1956.  Disbanded in 1965.  Young and Holt then formed The Young-Holt Trio.  Lewis reformed has trio with Cleveland Eaton (bass) and Maurice White (later with Earth, Wind and Fire; drums).  Reunited with Young and Holt in 1983.


The Dells

Vocal group formed at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois:  Johnny Funches (lead), Marvin Junior (baritone lead), Verne Allison (tenor), Mickey McGill (baritone) and Chuck Barksdale (bass).  First recorded as the El-Rays for Checker in 1953.  Signed with Vee-Jay in 1955.  Group remained intact into the 80s, with the exception of Funches, who was replaced by Johnny Carter (ex-Flamingos) in 1960.  


Betty Everett

Born on 11/23/39  in Greenwood, Missouri.  Vocalist/pianist.  Performed in gospel choirs.  To Chicago in the late 50s.  First recorded for Cobra in 1958.  Toured England in the mid-60s.  Betty passed away 8/21/01.


Gene Chandler

Born Eugene Dixon on 7/6/37 in Chicago.  Singer/producer.  Formed the Graytones at Englewood High School in 1955.  Joined the Dukays in 1957.  In the US Army from 1957-60.  Rejoined the Dukays in 1960.  Consisted of Dixon (lead), his cousin Shirley Jones and James Lowe (tenors), Earl Edwards (baritone) and Ben Broyles (bass).  First recorded for Nat in 1961.  Group recorded "Duke of Earl" for Vee-Jay.  Due to contract conflicts, Dixon left the group, changed name to Gene Chandler and promoted "Duke of Earl".  Had own label, Mr Chand, from 1969-73.


Tyrone Davis

Born on 5/4/38 in Greenville, Mississippi; raised in Saginaw, Michigan.  To Chicago in 1959.  Worked as a valet/chauffer for Freddy King until 1962.  Working local clubs when discovered by Harold Burrage.  First recorded for Four Brothers in 1965 as Tyrone The Wonder Boy.  His younger sister, Jean Davis, was a member of the group Facts of Life.   Jean Davis is still singing and continues to record music residing in Nashville,Tn.


The Chi-Lites

Chicago vocal group; Eugene Record (lead), Robert "Squirrel" Lester (tenor), Marshall Thompson (baritone) and Creadel "Red" Jones (bass).  First recorded as the Hi-Lites on Daran in 1963.  Name changed to Chi-Lites in 1964.  Jones left in 1973, first replaced by Stanley Anderson, then Willie Kensey.  Doc Roberson replaced Kensey in 1975.  Record (husband of Barbara Acklin) went solo in 1976, and tenors David Scott and Danny Johnson were added.  Vandy Hampton replaced Johnson in 1977.  Re-formed in 1980 with all four original members.  Jones retired in 1983, group continued as a trio.  By 1990, Anthony Watson replaced Record.


Barbara Acklin

Born on 2/28/43 in Chicago.  Singer/songwriter.  Cousin to Mark Higgins, who produced her first sessions for Special Agent in 1966 (as Barbara Allen).  Backup vocalist at Chess Records in the mid-60s.    While visiting a friend in Omaha, Nebraska, for Thanksgiving weekend, she died suddenly on Friday, November 27, 1998.


The Five Stairsteps

Chicago group consisting of brothers Clarence Jr., James, Dennis and Keni Burke, with their sister Aloha.  Later joined by the 5-year-old brother Cubie.  Managed by their father and produced by Curtis Mayfield; Clarence, James ,  Dennis and Keni later become The Invisible Man's Band.


Alvin Cash

Born on 2/15/39 in St. Louis.  Singer/dancer.  Formed song/dance troupe, The Crawlers, in 1960, with brothers Robert, Arthur and George (agess 8-10).  The never sang on any of Alvin's hits.  The brothers left the act to become the dance team the Little Step Brothers.  Moved to Chicago in 1963.  First recorded for Mar-V-Lus in 1964.  Cut "Twine Time" with backing band, the Nightlighters from Louisville, who changed their name to the Registers.    Alvin died  in his sleep at his Chicago home on 11/21/99, cause unknown.


Walter Jackson

Born on 3/19/38 in Pensacola, Florida.  Died of a cerebral hemorrhage on 6/20/83.  Moved to Detroit.  Contracted polio at an early age, performed on crutches.  Lead singer of the Velvetones, recorded for Deb in 1959.  First recorded for Columbia in 1962


Lou Rawls

Born on 12/1/35 in Chicago.  Vocalist/actor.  With gospel groups; The Teenage Kings of Harmony, Holy Wonders and Chosen Gospel Singers.  With Pilgrim Travelers gospel group from 1957-59.  First recorded for Shar-Dee in 1959; recorded for Capitol in 1961.  Summer replacement TV show Lou Rawls & The Golddiggers in 1969.  In the movies Angel Angel, Down We Go and Believe In Me.  Voice of many Budweiser beer ads.