Lionel Richie has gained the rights to produce a feature based on the life of legendary songwriter and musician Curtis Mayfield.
Mayfield started writing songs at age 11, at 14 he joining The Impressions. Mayfield penned more than 1,900 songs including such notable tracks as “People Get Ready,” “Keep on Pushin’,” and “It’s All Right”. He also scored various films, most notably iconic blaxploitation drama “Superfly”.
Mayfield, one of the first musicians to incorporate social awareness into soul music, was paralyzed from the neck down after stage lighting equipment fell on him during an outdoor concert in New York in 1990. He continued to sing, compose music and record until his death in 1999.
RichLion Productions will mount the project following Richie acquiring the rights from the Curtis Mayfield Estate.
