Kenny Loggins

In recent years, Loggins has continued to produce within the Adult contemporary genre, but the light-hearted, jazzy rock that personifies his past career will not be lost. The Impressions were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2003. for a live audience of 500,000. He died on December 26, 1999 in Roswell, Georgia. In 1991, Loggins recorded and produced Leap of Faith, an important album in his career featuring the hit "Conviction of the Heart." Former Vice-President Al Gore billed this song as "the unofficial anthem of the envrionmental movement." On Earth Day in 1995, Loggins performed at The National Mall in Washington, D.C. He was unable to perform until 1997, when he released the album New World Order. In 1998, he had to have his right leg amputated due to diabetes. Loggins also produced a song called "Forever", which would become an internationally recognized piece, translated into several languages. On August 14, 1990, Mayfield was paralyzed from the neck down after stage lighting equipment fell on him at a concert in Brooklyn, New York.

In the 1990s, Loggins continued his album career, including the popular 1994 children's album, Return to Pooh Corner, which included the emotionally touching single "House at Pooh Corner". Characteristically, Mayfield's lyrics included hard-hitting commentary on the state of affairs in black, urban ghettos at the time, previously unheard of in blaxploitation films. All of these songs remain an integral part of American popular culture. The album was influential in the development of funk, rock and roll, R&B, soul, gospel and pop music. Hits followed with "Footloose" from the film of the same name, "Meet Me Halfway" from Over the Top, and "Danger Zone", from Top Gun. In 1970, Mayfield left The Impressions and began a solo career, eventually peaking with Superfly (1972), one of the most influential films, soundtracks and albums in history. Over the next decade, Loggins produced many hit songs for movie soundtracks. This began with "I'm Alright" from Caddyshack. The Impressions reached the height of their popularity in the mid to late 1960s, with a string of Mayfield compositions that included "Keep On Pushin'," "People, Get Ready," "Choice of Colors," "This is My Country," and "We People Who Are Darker than Blue." Mayfield's "We're a Winner" became a virtual anthem of the black power/black pride movement.

Nightwatch, a popular album released in 1978, included the hit "Whenever I Call You Friend". "Amen," an updated version of an old gospel tune, was included in the soundtrack of 1963 MGM release "Lilies of the Field," which starred Sidney Poitier. In 1977, Loggins went on to produce his first solo album, Celebrate Me Home, which included the hit "This is It". The band had hits with "For Your Precious Love" and "Gypsy Woman." After Butler left the group and was replaced with Fred Cash, Mayfield became lead singer, frequently composing for the band, as well. Loggins began his career in the 1970s, and after catching the attention of fellow singer-songwriter Jim Messina, the two began a duo career that would last until 1976. Mayfield's career began in 1958 (see 1958 in music), when he formed The Impressions with Jerry Butler, Sam Gooden, Richad Brooks, and Arthur Brooks. His career spans several decades, namely the latter half of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the early 1990s. This "message music" became extremely popular during the period of political ferment and social upheaval of the 1960s and '70s.

He was born in Everett, Washington. Perhaps most notably, Mayfield was among the first of a new wave of mainstream African-American R&B performing artists and composers who injected social commentary into their work. Kenny Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer and songwriter. Curtis Mayfield (June 3, 1942 - December 26, 1999) was an African American soul, funk and R&B singer, songwriter and noted guitarist best known for his soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Superfly. Mayfield came to prominence as lead singer/songwriter for The Impressions, then went on to have a successful solo career.