View source for Jerry Butler

{{Short description|American soul singer and songwriter (1939–2025)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Jerry Butler
| image               = Jerry_Butler_1998.jpg
| office              = Member of the<br/>[[Cook County Board of Commissioners]]<br/>from the [[Cook County Board of Commissioners 3rd district|3rd district]]
| caption             = Butler in 1998
| term_start          = 1994
| term_end            = 2018
| predecessor         = ''constituency established''
| successor           = Bill Lowry
| office1             = Member of the<br/>[[Cook County Board of Commissioners]]<br/>from [[Chicago]]
| term_start1         = 1986
| term_end1           = 1994
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1939|12|8}}
| birth_place         = [[Sunflower, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2025|2|20|1939|12|8}}
| death_place         = [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| spouse              = {{marriage|Annette Butler|1959|2019|end=d}}
| awards              = [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] (1991)
| occupation          = {{plainlist|
* Singer-songwriter
* Record producer
* Multi-instrumentalist
* Politician
}}
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| module              = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes  <!-- See Musicians -->
| instrument = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* bass
* saxophone
* piano
* drums
}}
| background = solo_singer  <!--  Mandatory format, please do not change or remove  -->
| alias = The Ice Man
| genre = {{flatlist|
* [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[Chicago soul]]
* [[Philadelphia soul]]
}}
| years_active = 1958–2018
| label = {{flatlist|
* [[Abner Records|Abner]]
* [[Vee-Jay Records|Vee-Jay]]
* [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
* [[Motown]]
* [[Rhino Records|Rhino]]
}}
| past_member_of = [[The Impressions]]
| website =
}}
}}

'''Jerry Butler Jr.''' (December 8, 1939 – February 20, 2025) was an American soul singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and politician.<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=1997|edition=Concise|isbn=1-85227-745-9|page=207}}</ref> He was the original lead singer of the [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] [[vocal group]] [[the Impressions]], who were inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1991. After leaving the group in 1960, Butler achieved over 55 ''Billboard'' Pop and R&B Chart hits as a solo artist including "[[He Will Break Your Heart]]," "[[Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)|Let It Be Me]]," and "[[Only the Strong Survive (song)|Only the Strong Survive]]." He was inducted into the [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]] in 2015.

Butler served as a [[Cook County Board of Commissioners|Commissioner]] for [[Cook County, Illinois]], from 1985 to 2018. As a member of the 17-member county government board, he chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee and served as Vice Chair of the Construction Committee.<ref name="ButlerCookBoard">{{cite web|url=https://www.cookcountyil.gov/person/jerry-butler|title=Jerry Butler: County Board Commissioner, 3rd District|publisher=Cook County, Illinois|access-date=March 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825060431/https://www.cookcountyil.gov/person/jerry-butler|archive-date=August 25, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Biography==
[[File:Jerry_Butler_(1970).png|thumb|Jerry Butler in 1970]]

===Early life===
Butler was born in [[Sunflower, Mississippi]], United States, on December 8, 1939.<ref name="History"/><ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book|first=Joseph|last=Murrells|year=1978|title=The Book of Golden Discs|edition=2nd|publisher=Barrie and Jenkins Ltd|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/255 255]|isbn=0-214-20512-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/255}}</ref> When Butler was three years old, the family moved to [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and he grew up in the [[Cabrini–Green Homes|Cabrini–Green]] housing projects.<ref name="History">{{cite web|url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/honorable-jerry-butler|title=The Honorable Jerry Butler's Biography|website=The History Makers}}</ref> The mid-1950s had a profound effect on Butler's life. He performed in a [[church choir]] with [[Curtis Mayfield]]. As a teenager, Butler sang in a [[gospel music|gospel]] quartet called Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, along with Mayfield. Mayfield, a guitar player, became the lone instrumentalist for the six-member Roosters group,<ref name="Larkin"/> which later became The Impressions. Inspired by [[Sam Cooke]] and the [[Soul Stirrers]], the [[Five Blind Boys of Mississippi]], and the [[Pilgrim Travelers]], getting into the [[music industry]] seemed inevitable.<ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-butler-mn0000329468/biography|title=Jerry Butler|author=Lytle, Craig|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 3, 2017
}}</ref><ref name="ChiReader2011">{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/jerry-iceman-butler-profile/Content?oid=3553447|title=Jerry Butler: Soul Survivor|author=Cox, Ted|date=April 7, 2011|publisher=[[Chicago Reader]]|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Starpulse">{{cite web|url=http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Butler,_Jerry/Biography/|title=Jerry Butler Pictures, biography, Albums, Ringtones, Videos|publisher=Starpulse.com |access-date=June 26, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212131846/http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Butler,_Jerry/Biography/ |archive-date=December 12, 2013}}</ref>

Butler's younger brother, [[Billy Butler (singer)|Billy Butler]], also had a career in the music industry, including playing guitar with Jerry's band, until his death in 2015.<ref name="soultracks1">{{cite web|url=http://www.soultracks.com/story-billy-butler-dies|title=Soul singer Billy Butler dies at age 69 &#124; SoulTracks − Soul Music Biographies, News and Reviews|publisher=SoulTracks|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/3317-billy-butler-dies.html|title=Billy Butler Dies|publisher=Soulandjazzandfunk.com|date=April 1, 2015|access-date=April 2, 2015|archive-date=October 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027131138/http://www.soulandjazzandfunk.com/news/3317-billy-butler-dies.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Early recordings===
{{Main|The Impressions}}

Butler [[songwriter|co-wrote]] the song "[[For Your Precious Love]]" (which is ranked number 327 on the ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]) and wanted to [[sound recording and reproduction|record]] a [[gramophone record|disc]]. Looking for recording studios, [[the Impressions]] (the original members of which were Butler, [[Curtis Mayfield]], [[Sam Gooden]], [[Fred Cash]] − who left early on, and later returned − and brothers Arthur and Richard Brooks), auditioned for [[Chess Records]] and [[Vee-Jay Records]]. The group eventually signed with Vee-Jay, where they released "For Your Precious Love" in 1958. It became The Impressions' first [[hit record|hit]] and [[music recording sales certification|gold record]].<ref name="ChiReader2011"/>

===Solo career===
Butler was first given the nickname "Iceman" by [[WDAS (AM)|WDAS]] [[Philadelphia]] disc jockey, [[Georgie Woods]], while performing in a Philadelphia theater.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://gotriad.news-record.com/content/2012/10/24/article/iceman_to_bring_cool_sound|title=Iceman to bring cool sound|first=Eddie|last=Huffman|work=[[News & Record]]|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=October 25, 2012}}{{dead link|date=April 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> He released the single "[[He Will Break Your Heart]]" in 1960, and the song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard pop chart.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19601210.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, December 10, 1960 |access-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120121658/http://www.tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19601210.html |archive-date=January 20, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Butler co-wrote, with [[Otis Redding]], the latter's hit song "[[I've Been Loving You Too Long]]" in 1965.<ref name="Eder">{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/otis-blue-otis-redding-sings-soul-mw0000264238 | title = Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul – Review | last = Eder | first = Bruce | website = [[AllMusic]] | access-date = February 25, 2025}}</ref> Butler's solo career saw a string of hits, including the [[Top 40|Top 10]] successes "[[He Will Break Your Heart]]," "Find Another Girl," "I'm A-Telling You" (all co-written by fellow Impression [[Curtis Mayfield]] and featuring Mayfield as harmony vocal), the million selling<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs"/> "[[Only the Strong Survive (Jerry Butler song)|Only the Strong Survive]]," "[[Moon River]]," "Need To Belong" (recorded with the Impressions after he went solo), "[[Make It Easy on Yourself]]," "[[Let It Be Me (1955 song)|Let It Be Me]]" (with [[Betty Everett]]), "Brand New Me," "[[Ain't Understanding Mellow]]" (with [[Brenda Lee Eager]]), "[[Hey, Western Union Man]]," and "[[Never Give You Up (Gamble & Huff song)|Never Give You Up]]."<ref name="cnn" />

His 1969 "Moody Woman" release became a [[Northern Soul]] favourite and featured at number 369 in the Northern Soul Top 500.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jerry Butler |url=http://www.northernsoultrain.co.uk/artists/jerrybutler.html |website=Northern Soul Train |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref> Butler released two successful albums, ''[[The Ice Man Cometh (album)|The Ice Man Cometh]]'' (1968) and ''Ice on Ice'' (1969).<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bush |first1=John |title=The Iceman Cometh |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-iceman-cometh-mw0001242477 |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 26, 2025}}</ref> He collaborated on many of his successful recordings with the Philadelphia-based songwriting team of [[Gamble and Huff]].<ref name="cnn">{{cite news |title=Jerry 'Iceman' Butler, soul singer whose hits included 'Only the Strong Survive,' dead at 85 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/21/entertainment/jerry-ice-man-butler-death/index.html |access-date=February 26, 2025 |work=CNN}}</ref> In 1972, he had a small role in the cult classic film ''[[The Thing with Two Heads]]'' as a prison guard.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iconic 60s singer Jerry Butler dies aged 85 after tragic battle with Parkinson's disease |url=https://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/2017719/jerry-the-iceman-butler-dead-parkinsons |access-date=February 26, 2025 |work=The Daily Express}}</ref> With Motown, in 1976 and 1977, Butler produced and co-produced (with Paul David Wilson) two albums: ''Suite for the Single Girl'' and ''It All Comes Out in My Song''.<ref name="AllMusic"/><ref name="ChiReader2011"/>

In 1975, the pop group [[Tony Orlando and Dawn]] covered Butler's 1960 song "[[He Will Break Your Heart]]," with a new title, "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," and it was more successful than Butler's original (number 7), peaking at number one on the US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>

===1980s–2018===
Butler continued to perform while serving as a [[Cook County Board of Commissioners|Cook County Board Commissioner]] from 1985, before retiring from public office in 2018.<ref name="ChiReader2011"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://chicagocrusader.com/prominent-attorney-and-community-activist-to-run-to-replace-jerry-butler/|title=Prominent attorney and community activist to run to replace Jerry Butler|work=[[Chicago Crusader]]|date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> As Cook County Commissioner, Butler voted to uphold a historic 2008 Cook County sales tax increase, which remains the highest in the nation. As a result, the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' encouraged people to vote against him in the 2010 elections.<ref name="Trib Editorial">{{cite web|url=http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/vox_pop/2009/05/stroger-in-denial.html|title=Stroger in denial|date=May 11, 2009|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515102434/http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/vox_pop/2009/05/stroger-in-denial.html|archive-date=May 15, 2009}}</ref> Butler, however, won reelection in March 2014 with over 80 percent of the vote.<ref name="Hyde Park Herald">{{cite web|url=http://hpherald.com/2014/03/20/jerry-iceman-butler-re-elected-cook-county-commissioner/|title=Jerry "Iceman" Butler re-elected Cook County Commissioner|publisher=[[Hyde Park Herald]]|date=March 20, 2014|access-date=March 3, 2017|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042429/http://hpherald.com/2014/03/20/jerry-iceman-butler-re-elected-cook-county-commissioner/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He later served as host of [[PBS]] TV music specials such as ''Doo Wop 50'' and ''51'', ''Rock Rhythm and Doo Wop'', and ''Soul Spectacular: 40 years of R&B'', among others. He also served as chairman of the board of the [[Rhythm and Blues Foundation]]. In 1991, Butler was inducted, along with the other original members of the Impressions (Curtis Mayfield, [[Sam Gooden]], [[Fred Cash]], and [[Arthur Brooks (singer)|Arthur]] and Richard Brooks), into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Starpulse"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/impressions|title=The Impressions|website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futurerocklegends.com/artist.php?artist_id=The_Impressions|title=The Impressions − Future Rock Legends|website=Futurerocklegends.com|access-date=October 24, 2017}}</ref> Butler released ''[[Time & Faith]]'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=Time & Faith Review by Alex Henderson|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/time-faith-mw0000880689|website=AllMusic|access-date=November 7, 2021}}</ref>

[[The Hives]] covered "Find Another Girl" on their 2000 album ''[[Veni Vidi Vicious]]''. [[The Black Keys]] covered "[[Never Give You Up (Gamble & Huff song)|Never Give You Up]]" on their 2010 album, ''[[Brothers (The Black Keys album)|Brothers]]''.<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14222-brothers/|title=The Black Keys − Brothers|author=Fitzmaurice, Larry|date=May 19, 2010|publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref>

===Personal life and death===
His wife Annette, originally one of his backup singers, died in 2019.<ref name = Morris>{{cite news|url = https://variety.com/2025/music/news/jerry-butler-impressions-singer-dead-chicago-politician-1236315232/|title = Jerry Butler, Impressions Singer and Chicago Politician, Dies at 85|last = Morris|first = Chris|date = February 21, 2025|accessdate = February 21, 2025|work = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref>

After his 1991 induction into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of the Impressions,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/impressions|title=The Impressions|website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref> some music writers and critics<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marder|first1=Phill|date=October 14, 2011|title=For Rock Hall of Fame, Supposed "Influence" More Important Than Mass Popularity? In 2015 Butler was inducted into National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame|url=http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/for-rock-hall-of-fame-supposed-influence-more-important-than-mass-popularity|publisher=Goldmine Magazine|access-date=March 3, 2017}}</ref> stated that Butler also deserved a second induction as a solo artist, based upon his successful career as a recording artist and songwriter after leaving that group.

Butler died from the effects of [[Parkinson's disease]] at his home in Chicago, on February 20, 2025, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/jerry-butler-soul-singer-dead-85-1148f5bc574c4e8b82d8f0e550921980|title = Jerry 'Ice Man' Butler, soul singer whose hits included 'Only the Strong Survive,' dies at 85|last = Italie|first = Hillel|date = February 21, 2025|accessdate = February 21, 2025|work = [[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

==Discography==
=== Charted albums ===
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Album
! colspan="2" |Peak positions
! rowspan="2" |Label
|-
![[Billboard 200|US 200]]<br/><ref name="Albums">{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstopp00whit/page/120/mode/2up |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums 1955-1996 |date=1996 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn=0898201179 |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |pages=120 |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref><ref name="JoelW">{{cite book |last1=Whitburn |first1=Joel |url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstoplp00whit/page/24/mode/2up |title=Joel Whitburn's Top LP's, 1945-1972 |date=1973 |publisher=Record Research Inc. |isbn= |location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin |pages=24 |access-date=November 5, 2023}}</ref>
![[Cashbox (magazine)|US CB]]<br/><ref name="CB">{{Cite book |last=Hoffmann |first=Frank W |url=https://archive.org/details/cashboxalbumchar0000hoff/page/48/mode/2up |title=The Cash box album charts, 1955-1974 |date=1988 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=0-8108-2005-6 |location=Metuchen, N.J. |pages=48}}</ref>
|-
| 1967
| ''Mr. Dream Merchant''
| style="text-align:center;"| 154
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| rowspan="10"| [[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1968
| ''Golden Hits Live''
| style="text-align:center;"| 178
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| ''The Soul Goes On''
| style="text-align:center;"| 195
| style="text-align:center;"| 98
|-
| ''The Ice Man Cometh''
| style="text-align:center;"| 29
| style="text-align:center;"| 34
|-
| 1969
| ''Ice On Ice''
| style="text-align:center;"| 41
| style="text-align:center;"| 64
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1970
| ''The Best of Jerry Butler''
| style="text-align:center;"| 167
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| ''You & Me''
| style="text-align:center;"| 172
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1971
| ''Assorted Sounds''
| style="text-align:center;"| 186
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| ''Sagittarius Movement''
| style="text-align:center;"| 123
| style="text-align:center;"| 101
|-
| ''Gene & Jerry - One & One'' <br /> <small>(with [[Gene Chandler]])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 143
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1972
| ''The Spice of Life''
| style="text-align:center;"| 92
| style="text-align:center;"| 92
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1977
| ''The Vintage Years''
| style="text-align:center;"| 199
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Sire
|-
| ''Suite for the Single Girl''
| style="text-align:center;"| 146
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| rowspan="2"| [[Motown Records|Motown]]
|-
| ''Thelma & Jerry'' <br /> <small>(with [[Thelma Houston]])</small>
| style="text-align:center;"| 53
| style="text-align:center;"| —
|-
| 1979
| ''Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You''
| style="text-align:center;"| 160
| style="text-align:center;"| —
| Phil
|-
|}
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! style="width:400px;" rowspan="2"| Single (A-side, B-side)
! colspan="4"|Chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br><ref name="Awards">{{cite web|title=Jerry Butler − Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-butler-mn0000329468/awards|website=AllMusic|access-date=January 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530214346/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jerry-butler-mn0000329468/awards|archive-date=May 30, 2012}}</ref>
! style="width:40px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br />R&B]]<br><ref name="Awards"/>
! style="width:40px;"| [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|US<br />AC]]<br><ref name="Awards"/>
! style="width:40px;"| CAN<br />([[CHUM Chart|CHUM]]<br>[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]])<br><ref>{{cite web |title=Results: RPM Weekly |url=https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/list.aspx?OCRText=Jerry+Butler& |website=Library and Archives Canada | date=July 17, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1958
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[For Your Precious Love]]"<br /><small>b/w "Sweet Was the Wine" (from ''He Will Break Your Heart'')<br />Both tracks with The Impressions</small>
| 11
| 3
| —
| 18
| align="left" rowspan="4"|''Jerry Butler, esq.''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Come Back My Love"<br /><small>b/w "Love Me" (from ''Aware of Love'')<br />Both tracks with The Impressions</small>
| —
| 29
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"|1959
| style="text-align:left;"| "Lost"<br /><small>b/w "One By One" (from ''Aware of Love'')</small>
| —
| 17
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Was Wrong"<br /><small>b/w "Couldn't Go to Sleep" (from ''Aware of Love'')</small>
| —
| — 
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1960
| style="text-align:left;"| "A Lonely Soldier"<br /><small>b/w "I Found a Love"</small>
| —
| 25
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''He Will Break Your Heart''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[He Will Break Your Heart]]"<br /><small>b/w "Thanks to You"</small>
| 7
| 1
| —
| 9
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Silent Night"<br /><small>b/w "O Holy Night"</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1961
| style="text-align:left;"| "Find Another Girl"<br /><small>b/w "When Trouble Calls"</small>
| 27
| 10
| —
| 13
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Aware of Love''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I'm a Telling You"<br /><small>b/w "I See a Fool"</small>
| 25
| 8
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Moon River]]"
| 11
| 14
| 3
| 14
| align="left"|''Need to Belong''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Aware of Love"
| 105
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Aware of Love''
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1962
| style="text-align:left;"| "Isle of Sirens"<br /><small>b/w "Chi Town" (from ''Jerry Butler, esq.'')</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="3"|''Need to Belong''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Make It Easy on Yourself]]"<br /><small>b/w "It's Too Late" (non-album track)</small>
| 20
| 18
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Can Run (But You Can't Hide)"<br /><small>b/w "I'm the One" (non-album track)</small>
| 63
| 23
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Theme from Taras Bulba (The Wishing Star)"<br /><small>b/w "You Go Right Through Me" (from ''Jerry Butler, esq.'')</small>
| 100
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|Non-album track
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1963
| style="text-align:left;"| "Whatever You Want"<br /><small>b/w '"You Won't Be Sorry" (Non-album track)</small>
| 68
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Need to Belong''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[I Almost Lost My Mind]]"<br /><small>b/w "Strawberries" (from ''Need to Belong'')</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|Non-album track
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Where's the Girl"<br /><small>b/w "How Beautifully You Lie"</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Need to Belong''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "A Woman With Soul"<br /><small>b/w "Just a Little Bit" (from ''More of the Best of Jerry Butler'')</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|Non-album track
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Need to Belong"<br /><small>b/w "Give Me Your Love" (from ''He Will Break Your Heart'')</small>
| 31
| *
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Need to Belong''
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1964
| style="text-align:left;"| "Giving Up on Love"<br /><small>b/w "I've Been Trying" (non-album track)</small>
| 56
| *
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Stand Accused"
| 61
| *
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''More of the Best of Jerry Butler''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore"
| 95
| *
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Let It Be Me (The Everly Brothers song)|Let It Be Me]]" <small>(with Betty Everett)</small> /
| 5
| *
| —
| 28
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Delicious Together''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Ain't That Lovin' You, Baby]]" <small>(with Betty Everett)</small>
| 108
| *
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)|Smile]]"<br /><small>b/w "[[Love Is Strange]]" (from ''Delicious Together'')<br />Both tracks with Betty Everett</small>
| 42
| *
| —
| —
| align="left"|''More of the Best of Jerry Butler''
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1965
| style="text-align:left;"| "Good Times"<br /><small>b/w "[[I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face]]"</small>
| 64
| 33
| —
| —
|align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Since I Don't Have You]]"<br /><small>b/w "Just Be True"<br />Both tracks with Betty Everett</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Delicious Together''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Can't Stand to See You Cry"<br /><small>b/w "Nobody Needs Your Love (More Than I Do)"</small>
| 122
| —
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|Non-album tracks
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Just for You"<br /><small>b/w "Believe in Me" (from ''The Impressions With Jerry Butler'')</small>
| —
| 33
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1966
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[For Your Precious Love]]" <small>(re-recording)</small><br /><small>b/w "Give It Up" (non-album track)</small>
| —
| 25
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Love Me''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Love (Oh, How Sweet It Is)"<br /><small>b/w "Loneliness" (from ''The Best of Jerry Butler (Mercury)'')</small>
| 103
| 34
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|Non-album tracks
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Make Me Feel Like Someone"<br /><small>b/w "For What You Made of Me"</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Dig You Baby"<br /><small>b/w "Some Kinda Magic"</small>
| 60
| 8
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="3"|''Soul Artistry''
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1967
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Walked Into My Life"<br /><small>b/w "Why Did I Lose You"</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It"<br /><small>b/w "The Way I Love You (Nobody Ever Loved Anybody)" (from ''Mr. Dream Merchant'')</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Dream Merchant|Mr. Dream Merchant]]"<br /><small>b/w "Cause I Love You So" (Non-album track)</small>
| 38
| 23
| —
| 45
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Mr. Dream Merchant''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Lost"<br /><small>b/w "You Don't Know What You Got Until You Lose It" (from ''Soul Artistry'')</small>
| 62
| 48
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1968
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Never Give You Up (Gamble & Huff song)|Never Give You Up]]"<br /><small>b/w "Beside You" (from ''Mr. Dream Merchant'')</small>
| 20
| 7
| —
| 16
| align="left" rowspan="4"|''The Ice Man Cometh''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Hey, Western Union Man]]"<br /><small>b/w "Just Can't Forget About You"</small>
| 16
| 1
| —
| 15
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Are You Happy"<br /><small>b/w "(Strange) I Still Love You"</small>
| 39
| 9
| —
| 19
|-
| rowspan="5"| 1969
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Only the Strong Survive (song)|Only the Strong Survive]]"<br /><small>b/w "Just Because I Really Love You"</small>
| 4
| 1
| —
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Moody Woman"<br /><small>b/w "Go Away, Find Yourself" (from ''[[The Ice Man Cometh (album)|The Ice Man Cometh]]'')</small>
| 24
| 3
| —
| 17
| align="left" rowspan="5"|''Ice On Ice''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "What's the Use of Breaking Up" /
| 20
| 4
| —
| 25
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Brand New Me (Dusty Springfield song)|A Brand New Me]]"
| 109
| —
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Don't Let Love Hang You Up"<br /><small>b/w "Walking Around in Teardrops"</small>
| 44
| 12
| —
| 44
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1970
| style="text-align:left;"| "Got to See If I Can Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)"<br /><small>b/w "I Forgot to Remember"</small>
| 62
| 21
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Could Write a Book"<br /><small>b/w "Since I Lost You Lady" (from ''Ice on Ice'')</small>
| 46
| 15
| —
| 48
| align="left"|''You & Me''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Where Are You Going"<br /><small>b/w "You Can Fly"</small>
| 95
| 42
| —
| —
| align="left"|''"Joe" -- Original Soundtrack''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Special Memory"<br /><small>b/w "How Does It Feel"</small>
| 109
| 36
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives''
|-
| rowspan="6"| 1971
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Just Can't Win (By Making the Same Mistakes)"<br /><small>b/w "Sho Is Grooving"<br />Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler)</small>
| 94
| 32
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Gene & Jerry -- One & One''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Ten and Two (Take This Woman Off the Corner)"<br /><small>b/w "Everybody Is Waiting"<br />Both tracks by Gene (Chandler) & Jerry (Butler)</small>
| 126
| 44
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "If It's Real What I Feel"<br /><small>b/w "Why Are You Leaving Me" </small>
| 69
| 8
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Ain't Understanding Mellow]]" <small>(with Brenda Lee Eager)</small><br /><small>b/w "Windy City Soul" </small>
| 21
| 3
| —
| —
| align="left"|''The Sagittarius Movement''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "How Did We Lose It Baby"<br /><small>b/w "Do You Finally Need a Friend"</small>
| 85
| 38
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Assorted Sounds with the Aid of Assorted Friends and Relatives''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Walk Easy My Son"<br /><small>b/w "Let Me Be"</small>
| 93
| 33
| —
| —
| align="left"|''The Sagittarius Movement''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1972
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[I Only Have Eyes for You]]"<br /><small>b/w "A Prayer"</small>
| 85
| 20
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="3"|''The Spice Of Life''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[(They Long to Be) Close to You|Close to You]]"<br /><small>b/w "You Can't Always Tell"<br />Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager</small>
| 91
| 6
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "One Night Affair"<br /><small>b/w "Life's Unfortunate Sons" (from ''You & Me'')</small>
| 52
| 6
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1973
| style="text-align:left;"| "Can't Understand It"<br /><small>b/w "How Long Will It Last"<br />Both sides with Brenda Lee Eager</small>
| —
| 26
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''The Love We Have, The Love We Had''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Love We Had Stays on My Mind"<br /><small>b/w "Were We Lovers, Were We Friends"<br />Both tracks with Brenda Lee Eager</small>
| —
| 64
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Power of Love"<br /><small>b/w "What Do You Do on a Sunday Afternoon"</small>
| —
| 15
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Power of Love''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1974
| style="text-align:left;"| "That's How Heartaches Are Made"<br /><small>b/w "Too Many Danger Signs"</small>
| —
| 58
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Take The Time to Tell Her"<br /><small>b/w "High Stepper"</small>
| —
| 46
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Sweet Sixteen''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Playing On You"<br /><small>b/w "You and Me Against the World"</small>
| —
| 33
| —
| —
|-
| 1976
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Devil in Mrs. Jones"<br /><small>b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded"</small>
| —
| 55
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Love's on the Menu''
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1977
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Wanna Do It To You"<br /><small>b/w "I Don't Wanna Be Reminded" (from ''Love's on the Menu'')</small>
| 51
| 7
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''Suite for the Single Girl''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Chalk It Up"<br /><small>b/w "I Don't Want Nobody to Know" (from ''Love's on the Menu'')</small>
| —
| 28
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "It's a Lifetime Thing"<br /><small>b/w "Kiss Me Now" (Non-album track)<br />Both tracks with Thelma Houston)</small>
| —
| 55
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Thelma & Jerry''
|-
| 1978
| style="text-align:left;"| "(I'm Just Thinking About) Cooling Out"<br /><small>b/w "Are You Lonely Tonight"</small>
| —
| 14
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="3"|''Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You''
|-
| rowspan="2"|1979
| style="text-align:left;"| "Nothing Says I Love You Like I Love You"<br /><small>b/w "I'm Glad to Be Back"</small>
| —
| 86
| —
| —
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Let's Make Love"<br /><small>b/w "Dream World"</small>
| —
| —
| —
| —
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1980
| style="text-align:left;"| "The Best Love I Ever Had"<br /><small>b/w "Would You Mind"</small>
| —
| 49
| —
| —
| align="left" rowspan="2"|''The Best Love''
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Don't Be an Island" <small>(with Debra Henry)</small><br /><small>b/w "The Best Love I Ever Had" (Slow version)</small>
| —
| 75
| —
| —
|-
| 1982
| style="text-align:left;"| "No Love Without Changes"<br /><small>b/w "All the Way"</small>
| —
| 83
| —
| —
| align="left"|''Ice 'N Hot''
|-
| 1983
| style="text-align:left;"| "In My Life" <small>(with Patti Austin)</small><br /><small>B-side by Patti Austin: "What's At the End of a Rainbow"</small>
| —
| 92
| —
| —
|align="left"|Non-album track
|-
| colspan="8" style="font-size:8pt" |"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released.<br> * denotes that the R&B chart did not publish during the chart runs of these singles.
|}

==See also==
* [[List of soul musicians]]
* [[R&B number-one hits of 1960 (USA)]]
* [[R&B number-one hits of 1961 (USA)]]
* [[R&B number-one hits of 1968 (USA)]]
* [[R&B number-one hits of 1969 (USA)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* Pruter, Robert (1991). ''Chicago Soul''. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press. {{ISBN|978-0-252-06259-9}}.

==External links==
* {{IMDb name| 124974}}
* [https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-musicians/jerry-butler Mississippi musicians: Jerry Butler] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219045252/http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/jerry-butler.html |date=February 19, 2015 }}) by Erica Covin
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20021113034048/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/butler_jerry/bio.jhtml Jerry Butler Biography] on [[VH1]].com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090309021418/http://www.phillysoulclassics.com/artists/jerry-butler Jerry Butler on Philly Soul Classics]
* [http://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/honorable-jerry-butler "The History Makers: Jerry Butler]
* {{Discogs artist}}
* [https://www.soulexpress.net/jerrybutler_obituary.htm Jerry Butler talks about his career for Soul Express]

{{The Impressions}}
{{NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award}}
{{1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Jerry}}
[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:20th-century Illinois politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Illinois politicians]]
[[Category:African-American people in Illinois politics]]
[[Category:Alligator Records artists]]
[[Category:American baritones]]
[[Category:American soul musicians]]
[[Category:Deaths from Parkinson's disease in Illinois]]
[[Category:The Impressions members]]
[[Category:Members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners]]
[[Category:Mercury Records artists]]
[[Category:People from Sunflower, Mississippi]]
[[Category:Philadelphia International Records artists]]
[[Category:Singers from Chicago]]
[[Category:Singers from Mississippi]]
[[Category:Vee-Jay Records artists]]