JERRY BUTLER THE IMPRESSIONS FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE (1958)

Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield met while singing in the same Chicago church choir. After singing in a number of local gospel groups, the two of them joined a doowop group called The Roosters in 1957, whose members included Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and his brother Arthur Brooks. By 1958, The Roosters had a new manager in Eddie Thomas, a record deal with VeeJay Records, and a new name: Jerry Butler the Impressions. The group s first hit single was 1958 s For Your Precious Love, which hit, 11 on the US pop charts and, 3 on the R B charts. However, soon after the release of the R B Top 30 hit Come Back My Love, Butler left the group to go on to a successful solo career. After briefly touring with the nowsolo Butler as his guitarist, Curtis Mayfield became the group s new lead singer and songwriter, and Fred Cash, a returning original Roosters member, was appointed as the new fifth member.