Mayfield was professor Soul, teaching sociocultural awareness while dispensing hard lessons and tough love. Starting with the gospel-rooted vocal group the Impressions, he crafted romantic ballads ("I'm So Proud"), inspirational anthems ("People Get Ready"), orchestrated funk workouts ("Move On Up") and edgy street narratives ("Superfly"). When Mayfield died in 1999 -- nine years after being paralyzed in a stage accident -- his manager, Marv Heiman, offered this epitaph: "He wanted people to think about themselves and the world around them, making this a better place for everyone to live." Amen.
Total album sales: Under 500,000
Peak chart position: N/A
