Curtis Mayfield

Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Known as the 'Gentle Genius', he gained fame with the group the Impressions during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and later as a solo artist. Renowned for introducing social consciousness into soul music, Mayfield's 'People Get Ready' with the Impressions is lauded as a classic. His solo career peaked with the 'Super Fly' soundtrack, reflecting inner-city life. Despite being paralyzed in 1990, he continued to create music, winning a Grammy Legend Award in 1994 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.