"People Get Ready" by Curtis Mayfield (www.curtismayfield.com) is among the recordings recently selected for induction into the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Acting Librarian of Congress David S. Mao named 25 new sound recordings to the registry that have been recognized for their cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's aural legacy.

"Curtis would have been very proud for this recognition," says his widow, Altheida Mayfield. "His gift for songwriting came naturally, starting when he was very young. Curtis was truly a musical genius."

From the Library of Congress announcement: As he had in earlier compositions inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, such as "Keep On Pushing," Mayfield employed both folk and religious imagery in "People Get Ready," and his message offers hope at the same time that it exhorts its audience to rise to its task. "People Get Ready" also boasts one of the most effective arrangements of its day, with the Impressions' solo and harmony voicings and Mayfield's solo guitar passages blending seamlessly with arranger Johnny Pate's string and brass orchestration. The song was a strong hit at the time and it has continued to reach audiences ever since in the original version and many covers and tributes.

Acting Librarian of Congress David S. Mao named a total of 25 new sound recordings to the registry that have been recognized for their cultural, artistic and/or historical significance to American society and the nation's aural legacy.

"These recordings, by a wide range of artists in many genres of music and in spoken word, will be preserved for future listeners," Mao said.

Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Librarian, with advice from the Library's National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB), annually selects 25 recordings that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and are at least 10 years old.

The 2015 registry selections span the years 1911-1986. Nominations were gathered through online submissions from the public and from the NRPB, which is comprised of leaders in the fields of music, recorded sound and preservation

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