Mayfield's early musical influences from the 1950s to 1965 - gospel beginnings, writing songs for Jerry Butler, and his early Impressions hits Gypsy Woman and People Get Ready.

In the 1960s, Mayfield's songs were taken up by civil rights movement and in 1970 he began his solo career with (Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go.

Curtis continued his work on film soundtracks, and toward the end of the 1970s concentrated more on producing a number of artists, including Aretha Franklin.

On August 13 1990, Curtis was paralysed from the neck down in an accident. However, it did not deter him and he managed to produce studio album New World Order in 1994.