Curtis Mayfield Tribute - Rhino Records

Hear his legacy...

Curtis is gone, and I want to be bitter. I want to be bitter because Curtis suffered, spending the last decade of his life strapped down to a bed after having lifted the minds of so many. I want to be bitter because it took a crippling accident before we were willing to promote him to "legend," saving the tribute records, the Grammy® awards, the documentaries and the major-label record contracts until there was a tragedy to hang them on. I want to be bitter because it took his death before magazines and newspapers would bother taking the time and space to explain why we should all own his recordings. I want to be bitter, but I know that Curtis wouldn't have let me.

Years after he was paralyzed, and having already accepted that his condition was permanent, Curtis called his situation "a test." Strapped to his bed, hanging upside down to force breath through his vocal chords, Curtis recorded one of the most beautiful soul albums of the last twenty years. He was still singing of pride, hope, and peace, even though most men would have abandoned all three ideals the moment they got the doctor's prognosis. During the civil rights movement, when every black man in America had good reason to be angry, Curtis wrote songs of tolerance and brotherhood.

It wasn't until the last months of his life that Curtis' optimism finally wore off and reports from his family said that he was in a deep depression. In a way, his loss of spirit is more tragic than his loss of the use of his body. Because in the end Curtis'gift to us was his spirit. But he was in pain, and as the cliche goes, he's in a better place now. Yet what hurts, what burns, what can destroy any last shred of optimism left in a cynical world, is that Curtis tried more than anything to make this the better place -- the world we live in now, and not the place we ultimately go when our bodies can't take it anymore. If you want to honor his life through his music, there's plenty of it out there to hear, and it's all worth listening to. Personally, I'm honoring his life by letting this one go and forgiving whoever or whatever is responsible for a slow and tragic end to such a beautiful life.

--David Gorman, Director of Creative Marketing, Advertising & Merchandising

WE ASKED SOME OF OUR FELLOW RHINOS, "WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CURTIS MAYFIELD SONG?"

Gary Stewart, Senior Vice President of Artists & Repertoire: "'Choice Of Colors,' Curtis' take on the still relevant and pressing issue of race in a masterful mix of social commentary, spirituality, and '60s soul."

Barry Benson, Associate Director of Urban Promotion: "'Keep On Pushin',' a very inspirational record that gives you that old-time gospel feel crossed with a funky, James Brown-like vibe."

Reggie Collins, Managing Catalog Editor/Customer Service Representative: "'Pusherman' from the Superfly soundtrack -- great lyrics, killer production, and the most eternally cool wah-wah guitar playing this side of Hendrix. But, at the risk of cheating, I'd also like to pick 'I'm So Proud' from his earlier Impressions incarnation because it shows that this socially/politically/spiritually conscious man could also write a great dim-the-lights-style love song with the best of 'em."