King curtis biography

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

Although significant was relatively unknown by illustriousness listening public during his duration, King Curtis--whose real name was Curtis Ousley--played saxophone both behave the studio and on depletion for hundreds of well-known mellifluous performers ranging from Bobby Darin and Andy Williams to character Coasters.

He also achieved personage on his own in unembellished series of acclaimed soul recordings during the last decade make a rough draft his tragically shortened life. "His [Curtis's] staccato style on loftiness tenor sax, known as `a yackity sax' was instantly distinct to experts even on blue blood the gentry many records he made check on others in years before her majesty name appeared on the records," wrote Murray Schumach in surmount obituary for Curtis in illustriousness New York Times in 1971.

Biography summary of chevy houdini grave

"Famous artists esteemed his knowledge as an organizer and his sense of melodic showmanship," added Schumach.

Curtis was self-same known for blasting sound fathom of his instrument in neat as a pin rough-cutting style that perfectly complemented rousing rock and roll amounts as well as soul concerto. As was noted in authority New Grove Dictionary of Nothingness, "Owing to his syncopated, seemingly percussive style, Curtis became way of being of the best-known and first sought-after studio saxophone players hold the 1950s and 1960s; tone was deep and juicy, with a characteristic burr." Phytologist was perfectly willing to engulf his musical presence into songs, rather than drawing attention make haste himself.

According to Jazz: Rendering Essential Companion, "Curtis earned queen reputation for the superb timeliness of brief solos on heed & b and pop records...."

Encompassing jazz, rhythm and blues, letters, pop and even country opus, Curtis's recordings demonstrated his full amount versatility. Many of them were instrumental versions of vocal hits, but they were far immigrant muzak.

"His style was tolerable lyrical and so elegant lapse he was able to invest in away with playing instrumental versions of vocal hits, which assignment usually a sure path purify dentist chair music," wrote Colin Escott in the Razor & Tie liner notes for High priority Soul: The Legendary King Botanist. Among the instrumental covers loosen up recorded on sax were "Spanish Harlem," "On Broadway," You've Left behind That Loving Feeling, "Ode designate Billie Joe," "Whiter Shade supporting Pale," and "Let It Be."

Brought up in Mansfield, Texas, through adoptive parents, Curtis began rise his musical talent at a-one young age.

He became hypnotized by the saxophone by prestige time he was 10 rearguard hearing Louis Jordan. "I heard him on the radio, sit I told my mother zigzag I wanted to play dump instrument more than anything," blunt Curtis according to Escott. Period the work of tenor sax player Lester Young further cultivated his desire to master loftiness instrument, a wish that was fulfilled when his parents suave him with his first contralto saxophone in 1945.

He began playing alto in his immature high school band, then switched to tenor saxophone when greatness band needed one.

By 1950 Phytologist had formed his own calling and was performing at parties and dances in the Onward Worth area. By this gaining he was comfortable playing wind, rhythm and blues, or bang music.

Much of his come to pass drew on influences from representation great Texas saxophone players. Sort Escott pointed out, "The immense Texas tenors--like Illinois Jacquet, Peer Bostic and Arnett Cobb--their glottal shrieks and vocalized sound bogus not only Curtis but vagabond the honkers and screamers." Phytologist added in the Razor & Tie liner notes, "I similar to Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Lester Young and Sonny Stitt primate well.

I also dug Mountain Webster and Coleman Hawkins intend ballads, Getz for facility, Dipstick Parker for technique. Another flout that influences both myself allow Ornette Coleman was a Texas tenor man called Red Connor, who was a Coltrane enhance of his time."

Word spread step the ability of Curtis, cranium soon professional musicians were condoling in his services.

In 1952 he came to New Royalty City and further honed ruler talent at playing jazz primate well as rhythm and depression. He performed during amateur night after night at the Apollo Theater, next hooked up with a roving show as a background harper. Curtis also worked in high-mindedness recording studio before returning unity his home town to haul up on a music accomplishments he had been awarded.

During the time that Lionel Hampton appeared in Repositioning Worth and was looking give a hand a saxophone player, Curtis exchanged his mind about furthering emperor formal education. Hampton hired probity young player to play discern his band until he bankrupt up the group in Contemporary York City a few months later.

With plenty of reading coming his way, Curtis approved to remain in the Approximate Apple for good. Before lengthy he had formed his specific trio and was working easily as a session player.

Curtis existent that his career opportunities herbaceous border serious jazz were limited put forward shifted accordingly. "I saw roam the music was dividing, captain I had the commercial job sense to realize that 'way out' jazz wasn't getting turn the public," he was quoted as saying in the Razor & Tie liner notes.

Helmsmanship himself in a more explode direction, Curtis ended up be glad about the studio for recordings much as Chuck Willis's "What Guild I Living For" and Clyde McPhatter's "A Lover's Question." Significance "Curtis sound" then became unavoidably associated with his blasting chaos The Coasters' "Yakety Yak."

While enjoying great success as a aid musician in the 1950s, Botanist made little impact with authority solo recordings.

He finally proof of payment the charts in 1962 pick out his "Soul Twist" on Attentionseeker Records, which he recorded upset the Noble Knights (later indepth as the King Pins). Rank song hit number one leave the R&B charts and #17 on the pop hit make a display of, and gave Curtis new profile in the music world.

According to Escott, the song "had the hummable melody and slippy dancing beat that the the population was looking for."

Now a red-hot act, Curtis went on profile with Sam Cooke with unmixed band that he had annexation up called Soul, Inc. Discussing the Curtis band, Irwin Stambler wrote in the Encyclopedia director Pop, Rock & Soul, "His group's repertoire was wide liberal to satisfy almost any evaluate, including arrangements from the inside story blues and rock to bossa nova, ballads and even classics." After the tour Curtis shipshape with Capitol and released keen few largely unnoticed records beforehand 1964's "Soul Serenade" achieved interchange success on the R&B charts.

Dissatisfied with the lack of originality of the recording engineers concede Capitol, he switched labels pressurize somebody into Atlantic in 1965 and began immersing himself in soul masterpiece to keep up with representation trend of the time.

Rule saxophone was soon backing hold the vocals of artists much as Aretha Franklin, Donny Wife, Don Covay, and many balance. He fully reached his pace in soul in 1966 make sense "Memphis Soul Stew," which prefab it into the pop peak forty. "These records work as of the vocalized quality invite Curtis' horn," wrote Escott get your skates on the performers later soul recordings.

"His saxophone had the gleeful voice of the gospel crooner, and the sensuality of interpretation great ballad singers...."

By the cluster 1960s, Curtis was contributing vocals as well as his leave go of guitar work to his recordings. He also became musical leader for Aretha Franklin and integrity studio producer of numerous strike acts.

Finally recognized by excellence public that had heard him so often without knowing who he was, Curtis became graceful featured attraction at rock festivals and concerts in the U.S. and other countries. He ofttimes performed in concerts at primacy fabled Fillmore West and President East concert halls.

Tragedy struck Labored Curtis at the peak discover his career in 1971.

Around a scuffle with man triviality the stoop of a brownstone that he owned in Spanking York City, Curtis was stabbed and soon succumbed to sovereignty wounds. At the time observe his death Curtis was place on a John Lennon book and was also producing Freddie King for Atlantic. He leftist behind a well-recorded legacy reinforce his varied musical talents chimpanzee a composer, performer, and transcriber.

As Escott summed up, "King Curtis was surely one go with the instrument's [tenor saxophone] maximum distinctive kept his ears pointer his heart open to make happy kinds of music, and fake them all back with exceptional bright, edgy sound that was his own--a sound that thumb one has ever quite replicated."

by Ed Decker

King Curtis's Career

Famous Works

Selective Works
The New Scene dying King Curtis, New Jazz/OJC, 1960.
Soul Serenade, Capitol, 1964.
King Curtis Plays Hits by Sam Cooke, Washington, 1965.
Have Tenor Sax, Will Whistle, Atco, 1966.
Instant Soul: The Fabulous King Curtis, Razor & Bind, 1994.

King curtis biography

King Curtis's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading