The generosity of spirit that runs through Curtis Mayfield's solo work helped fuel a parallel career as soul auteur. With the similarly gospel-bred, independent-minded Sam Cooke as role model, Mayfield formed Curtom as a publishing company in 1963. Despite financial problems as a label, Curtom's broad church embraced The Impressions-era close harmonies of The Five Stairsteps And Cubie and The Fascinations, the 1979 material girl manifesto of Linda Clifford's "Don't Give It Up" and latter-day offerings from former associates Fred Wesley and Mavis Staples. Curtis' own offerings stand out, but the purity of his vision seldom fails to shine.
The generosity of spirit that runs through Curtis Mayfield’s solo work helped fuel a parallel career as soul auteur. With the similarly gospel-bred, independent-minded Sam Cooke as role model, Mayfield formed Curtom as a publishing company in 1963. Despite financial problems as a label, Curtom’s broad church embraced The Impressions-era close harmonies of The Five Stairsteps And Cubie and The Fascinations, the 1979 material girl manifesto of Linda Clifford’s “Don’t Give It Up” and latter-day offerings from former associates Fred Wesley and Mavis Staples. Curtis’ own offerings stand out, but the purity of his vision seldom fails to shine.
