Curtis Mayfield, a pioneering singer, songwriter, and guitarist, has passed away on December 26, 1999 at the age of 57. A native of Chicago, Mayfield was born on June 3, 1942. He is the voice and composer behind a string of memorable soul and R&B hits such as “People Get Ready”, “Move On Up”, and “Superfly”. Mayfield’s vision of an uplifting musical message, combined with his sophisticatedly innovative arrangements, had a tremendous influence on generations of later soul performers. With his group the Impressions, Mayfield wrote or co-wrote numerous early R&B classics such as “Gypsy Woman” and “It’s All Right”. In addition to this, the group’s soulful voices represented the sweetest harmonies of their era. Mayfield notably ran his own Curtom label, which served as his showcase for new musical explorations. His solo career was equally successful, with albums such as 1971’s Roots and 1975’s Sweet Exorcist. His songwriting and production prowess also helped to propel the careers of others, such as R&B artist Major Harris. Among his accolades are the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award. Mayfield’s contribution to music and popular culture will never be forgotten.