On March 27, two days after the Selma-Montgomery march, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions’ “People Get Ready” peaked on the pop chart at No. 14. Mayfield’s anthem was inspired by King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and by the gospel song “This Train’s Bound for Glory.”

The album of the same title was the number one R&B LP the weeks of March 27 and April 3.