Floor SpeechNeutral2025-03-04

PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY "ICEMAN" BUTLER

HealthcareHousing

Context

On 2025-03-04, Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL-7) delivered a floor speech titled "PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY "ICEMAN" BUTLER" in the House. The speech addressed healthcare and also covered housing.

Full Text

PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY "ICEMAN" BUTLER

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)] [House] [Pages H952-H953] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY ``ICEMAN'' BUTLER The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for 5 minutes. Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dear friend, great vocalist, entertainer, outstanding civic and community leader, and a solid member for many years of the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a primary focus on healthcare, Jerry Butler. Jerry was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, and his parents, like thousands of other Blacks, migrated to Chicago. As a matter of fact, we fondly sometimes call Chicago ``northern Mississippi.'' Jerry's family lived in the Cabrini-Green area, which was a large public housing development. That is where Jerry, Curtis Mayfield, and their friends, as young teenagers and young adults, sang spirituals and doo-wops, hung out, and had fun. They ultimately formed a group called The Roosters and then The Impressions. The Impressions were sensational. Jerry performed with them for a bit, and then he went solo. After leaving the group in 1960, Jerry achieved over 55 Billboard pop and rhythm and blues hits as a solo artist. Some of his top hits were ``He Will Break Your Heart,'' ``Let It Be Me,'' and ``Only the Strong Survive.'' Jerry cowrote the song ``For Your Precious Love,'' which is ranked No. 321 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Jerry was known as the Iceman. He even played a small role in a movie. Jerry was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1985 and served there until he retired in 2018. {time} 1030 His last election was in 2014 in which he received 80 percent of the votes. Jerry served as host of PBS' TV music specials such as ``Doo Wop 50'' and ``Doo Wop 51''; ``Rock, Rhythm & Doo Wop''; ``Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular.'' He also served as chairman of the board of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. In 1991, Jerry was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with the other original members of The Impressions: Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks. When Jerry and I served on the Cook County Board together, I was walking down the hall one morning humming ``Moon River,'' and I passed Jerry's door. He hollered out and said: I hear you. I said: Well, how am I doing? He said: Well, don't quit your day job. Well, Jerry, I didn't quit my day job. I am still here, and I know that he is [[Page H953]] up there in Heaven with all of the other soul singers. We are never going to give him up, and I know that he is up there leading them in glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on. The only thing that I can say is Jerry lived a life well done, and I will see him when I get there. ____________________

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PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY "ICEMAN" BUTLER Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 4, 2025)] [House] [Pages H952-H953] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PAYING TRIBUTE TO JERRY ``ICEMAN'' BUTLER The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for 5 minutes. Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a dear friend, great vocalist, entertainer, outstanding civic and community leader, and a solid member for many years of the Cook County Board of Commissioners with a primary focus on healthcare, Jerry Butler. Jerry was born in Sunflower, Mississippi, and his parents, like thousands of other Blacks, migrated to Chicago. As a matter of fact, we fondly sometimes call Chicago ``northern Mississippi.'' Jerry's family lived in the Cabrini-Green area, which was a large public housing development. That is where Jerry, Curtis Mayfield, and their friends, as young teenagers and young adults, sang spirituals and doo-wops, hung out, and had fun. They ultimately formed a group called The Roosters and then The Impressions. The Impressions were sensational. Jerry performed with them for a bit, and then he went solo. After leaving the group in 1960, Jerry achieved over 55 Billboard pop and rhythm and blues hits as a solo artist. Some of his top hits were ``He Will Break Your Heart,'' ``Let It Be Me,'' and ``Only the Strong Survive.'' Jerry cowrote the song ``For Your Precious Love,'' which is ranked No. 321 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Jerry was known as the Iceman. He even played a small role in a movie. Jerry was elected to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in 1985 and served there until he retired in 2018. {time} 1030 His last election was in 2014 in which he received 80 percent of the votes. Jerry served as host of PBS' TV music specials such as ``Doo Wop 50'' and ``Doo Wop 51''; ``Rock, Rhythm & Doo Wop''; ``Rhythm and Blues 40: A Soul Spectacular.'' He also served as chairman of the board of the Rhythm & Blues Foundation. In 1991, Jerry was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, along with the other original members of The Impressions: Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks. When Jerry and I served on the Cook County Board together, I was walking down the hall one morning humming ``Moon River,'' and I passed Jerry's door. He hollered out and said: I hear you. I said: Well, how am I doing? He said: Well, don't quit your day job. Well, Jerry, I didn't quit my day job. I am still here, and I know that he is [[Page H953]] up there in Heaven with all of the other soul singers. We are never going to give him up, and I know that he is up there leading them in glory, hallelujah, His truth is marching on. The only thing that I can say is Jerry lived a life well done, and I will see him when I get there. ____________________