Los Angeles, Feb. 21 -- Jerry Butler, the original lead singer of the Impressions who later embarked on a successful career as a solo artist and a Chicago politician, has passed away. He was 85.

The cause of his demise has not been disclosed yet, although he had suffered from Parkinson's disease, Variety reported, citing information from Chicago Sun Times. He is survived by his sons Randy and Anthony.

Alongside singer-guitarist Curtis Mayfield, with whom he had sung in the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers, 19-year-old Butler broke onto the charts in 1958 with the doo-wop-inflected ballad "For Your Precious Love," by the act initially billed as Jerry Butler and the Impressions.

Following one more top-30 single with the group, Butler brok...