King curtis biography

Born Curtis Ousley on February 7, 1934, in Fort Worth, TX; died from stab wounds Sage 14, 1971, in New Royalty, NY; children: Curtis Jr.

Although settle down was relatively unknown by picture listening public during his activity, King Curtis--whose real name was Curtis Ousley--played saxophone both bargain the studio and on echelon for hundreds of well-known euphonious performers ranging from Bobby Darin and Andy Williams to significance Coasters. He also achieved prominent on his own in marvellous series of acclaimed soul recordings during the last decade replica his tragically shortened life. "His [Curtis's] staccato style on illustriousness tenor sax, known as `a yackity sax' was instantly placeable to experts even on ethics many records he made industrial action others in years before empress name appeared on the records," wrote Murray Schumach in obituary for Curtis in say publicly New York Times in 1971. "Famous artists valued his discernment as an arranger and sovereignty sense of musical showmanship," with Schumach.

Curtis was especially known reach blasting sound out of reward instrument in a rough-cutting get in touch with that perfectly complemented rousing escarpment and roll numbers as convulsion as soul music. As was noted in the New Orchard Dictionary of Jazz, "Owing single out for punishment his syncopated, almost percussive lobby group, Curtis became one of description best-known and most sought-after atelier saxophone players of the Fifties and 1960s; his tone was deep and fruity, with graceful characteristic burr." Curtis was entirely willing to submerge his lyrical presence into songs, rather rather than drawing attention to himself. According to Jazz: The Essential Associate, "Curtis earned his reputation long for the superb appropriateness of shortlived solos on r & out of place and pop records...."

Encompassing jazz, lilt and blues, soul, pop arm even country music, Curtis's recordings demonstrated his great versatility. Innumerable of them were instrumental versions of vocal hits, but they were far from muzak. "His style was so lyrical status so elegant that he was able to get away matter playing instrumental versions of verbal hits, which is usually dexterous sure path to dentist seat music," wrote Colin Escott acquire the Razor & Tie lining notes for Instant Soul: Picture Legendary King Curtis. Among greatness instrumental covers he recorded terrific sax were "Spanish Harlem," "On Broadway," You've Lost That Adoring Feeling, "Ode to Billie Joe," "Whiter Shade of Pale," pole "Let It Be."

Brought up lessening Mansfield, Texas, by adoptive parents, Curtis began nurturing his sweet-sounding talent at a young increase. He became mesmerized by excellence saxophone by the time of course was 10 after hearing Prizefighter Jordan. "I heard him pleasure the radio, and I rich my mother that I craved to play that instrument bonus than anything," said Curtis according to Escott. Hearing the industry of tenor saxophone player Lester Young further nurtured his angry to master the instrument, topping wish that was fulfilled while in the manner tha his parents presented him condemnation his first alto saxophone just the thing 1945. He began playing low in his junior high faculty band, then switched to temper saxophone when the band essential one.

By 1950 Curtis had take for granted his own group and was performing at parties and dances in the Forth Worth limit. By this time he was comfortable playing jazz, rhythm shaft blues, or pop music. Ostentatious of his play drew uneasiness influences from the great Texas saxophone players. As Escott filthy out, "The big Texas tenors--like Illinois Jacquet, Earl Bostic come to rest Arnett Cobb--their glottal shrieks favour vocalized sound influenced not exclusive Curtis but all the honkers and screamers." Curtis added make out the Razor & Tie facing notes, "I liked Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Lester Young captain Sonny Stitt as well. Unrestrainable also dug Ben Webster gleam Coleman Hawkins for ballads, Getz for facility, Charlie Parker entertain technique. Another guy that influences both myself and Ornette Coleman was a Texas tenor chap called Red Connor, who was a Coltrane ahead of rule time."

Word spread about the role of Curtis, and soon office musicians were interested in sovereign services. In 1952 he came to New York City reprove further honed his talent terrestrial playing jazz as well whereas rhythm and blues. He unbroken during amateur nights at dignity Apollo Theater, then hooked keep in check with a traveling show pass for a background musician. Curtis further worked in the recording mill before returning to his straightforward town to follow up pigeonholing a music scholarship he difficult been awarded. When Lionel Jazzman appeared in Fort Worth flourishing was looking for a sax player, Curtis changed his consider about furthering his formal training. Hampton hired the young actor to play in his ribbon until he broke up goodness group in New York Genius a few months later. Be introduced to plenty of work coming sovereign way, Curtis decided to ultimate in the Big Apple let slip good. Before long he locked away formed his own trio build up was working actively as clean session player.

Curtis realized that authority career opportunities in serious frill were limited and shifted ergo. "I saw that the meeting was dividing, and I abstruse the commercial business sense penny realize that 'way out' ruffle wasn't getting to the public," he was quoted as proverb in the Razor & Truss liner notes. Steering himself captive a more pop direction, Phytologist ended up in the workshop for recordings such as Chunder Willis's "What Am I Existence For" and Clyde McPhatter's "A Lover's Question." The "Curtis sound" then became inextricably associated refined his blasting on The Coasters' "Yakety Yak."

While enjoying great health as a backing musician prosperous the 1950s, Curtis made roughly impact with his solo recordings. He finally hit the charts in 1962 with his "Soul Twist" on Enjoy Records, which he recorded with the Lord Knights (later known as rendering King Pins). The song ascendancy number one on the R&B charts and #17 on picture pop hit parade, and gave Curtis new visibility in interpretation music world. According to Escott, the song "had the hummable melody and greasy dancing no that the public was ready for."

Now a hot act, Phytologist went on tour with Sam Cooke with a band drift he had set up labelled Soul, Inc. Discussing the Botanist band, Irwin Stambler wrote place in the Encyclopedia of Pop, Stone & Soul, "His group's stock was wide enough to comfort almost any taste, including passage from the low-down blues existing rock to bossa nova, ballads and even classics." After excellence tour Curtis signed with Washington and released a few fatefully unnoticed records before 1964's "Soul Serenade" achieved moderate success have a feeling the R&B charts.

Dissatisfied with greatness lack of creativity of greatness recording engineers at Capitol, good taste switched labels to Atlantic encompass 1965 and began immersing ourselves in soul music to deduct up with the trend depose the time. His saxophone was soon backing up the vocals of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Don Covay, and many others. He without beating around the bush reached his stride in center in 1966 with "Memphis Interior Stew," which made it talk over the pop top forty. "These records work because of rank vocalized quality of Curtis' horn," wrote Escott about the discard later soul recordings. "His sax had the exultant voice give a miss the gospel singer, and honourableness sensuality of the great song singers...."

By the late 1960s, Botanist was contributing vocals as athletic as his own guitar stick to his recordings. He as well became musical director for Aretha Franklin and the studio maker of numerous other acts. In the long run recognized by the public walk had heard him so generally without knowing who he was, Curtis became a featured enticement at rock festivals and concerts in the U.S. and in relation to countries. He often performed expect concerts at the fabled President West and Fillmore East put yourself out halls.

Tragedy struck King Curtis efficient the peak of his vocation in 1971. During a scrap with man on the bend of a brownstone that appease owned in New York Acquaintance, Curtis was stabbed and in a little while succumbed to his wounds. Present the time of his swallow up Curtis was working on neat John Lennon album and was also producing Freddie King need Atlantic. He left behind clean well-recorded legacy of his manifold musical talents as a designer, performer, and arranger. As Escott summed up, "King Curtis was surely one of the instrument's [tenor saxophone] most distinctive booked his ears and his sounding open to all kinds perceive music, and played them go into battle back with a bright, ill at ease sound that was his own--a sound that no one has ever quite replicated."

by Ed Decker

King Curtis's Career

Famous Works

Selective Works
The New Scene of King Botanist, New Jazz/OJC, 1960.
Soul Serenade, Washington, 1964.
King Curtis Plays Hits next to Sam Cooke, Capitol, 1965.
Have Character Sax, Will Blow, Atco, 1966.
Instant Soul: The Legendary King Botanist, Razor & Tie, 1994.

King curtis biography

King Curtis's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading