Butler, who died Feb. 20, was born in rural Miss., and had his first hit in 1958, singing lead with The Impressions. He later moved to Chicago and entered local politics. Originally broadcast in 2000.

Jerry Butler, a premier soul singer of the 1960s and after whose rich, intimate baritone graced such hits as “For Your Precious Love,” “Only the Strong Survive” and “Make It Easy On Yourself,” has ...

BUTLER: You know, see, we were never big and famous, as was Sam Cooke or Lou Rawls with the Pilgrim Travelers and Sam Cooke with the Soul Stirrers. And so when we started singing rhythm and blues, ...