(April 15, 2025) The loss of soul man Jerry Butler struck the community of music lovers hard. Butler made numerous contributions to the soul music canon as lead singer with The Impressions and as a solo artist. Butler’s passing certainly hit those hailing from the city of Chicago very hard. Butler had been a presence in the city for years, both as a musician and as a political leader.
That connection is what prompted singer/songwriter Chazz Dixon to honor The Ice Man in the form of a remake of Butler’s 1968 hit “Never Gonna Give You Up.” The tune is a classic tale of two people who appear to have different agendas. The man who Dixon gives voice to has it bad for a woman who’s ready to move on with someone else.
Dixon titled his 2019 album Anachronism, which plants his approach to music and perhaps certain aspects of life firmly in a time period from the past. The vocalist doubles down on being unabashedly old school on this loving remake of Butler’s classic. Dixon’s vocals are well known to SoulTrackers. His buttery tenor is reminiscent of the great Smoky Robinson, and he uses that longing and vulnerability to fine effect on this remake. Check out Chazz Dixon on “Never Gonna Give You Up” here
By Howard Dukes
