Late Soul Legend's Birthday Tribute Kicks Off July 20th
9:00PM ET July 17th, 2012
Contributor : Stephen Willis
A Rocky Williform Company

The Roots and Aloe Blacc will be paying tribute to legendary soul singer Curtis Mayfield. There will be an extended birthday celebration for what would've been the late Mayfield's 70th birthday on Friday, July 20.

"Here But I'm Gone: A 70th Birthday Tribute to Curtis Mayfield" takes place at New York's Lincoln Center featuring The Roots, Aloe Blacc, Sinead O'Connor, Mavis Staples, and the surviving members of Mayfield's former vocal group the Impressions.

"We'd listen to the Impressions 24 hours a day, the entire catalog," says Binky Griptite, of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. "Those records are just solid tens across the board – incredible songwriting, incredible vocal and band performances. The arrangements are incredible, the recordings are incredible. There's no weakness."