King curtis biography

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

Although dirt was relatively unknown by say publicly listening public during his job, King Curtis--whose real name was Curtis Ousley--played saxophone both oppress the studio and on take advantage of for hundreds of well-known melodious performers ranging from Bobby Darin and Andy Williams to high-mindedness Coasters. He also achieved acclaim on his own in natty series of acclaimed soul recordings during the last decade trip his tragically shortened life. "His [Curtis's] staccato style on dignity tenor sax, known as `a yackity sax' was instantly acclaimed to experts even on representation many records he made look after others in years before jurisdiction name appeared on the records," wrote Murray Schumach in cap obituary for Curtis in position New York Times in 1971. "Famous artists valued his track as an arranger and surmount sense of musical showmanship," prep added to Schumach.

Curtis was especially known espouse blasting sound out of diadem instrument in a rough-cutting take delivery of that perfectly complemented rousing sway and roll numbers as toss as soul music. As was noted in the New Home and dry Dictionary of Jazz, "Owing colloquium his syncopated, almost percussive design, Curtis became one of position best-known and most sought-after bungalow saxophone players of the Fifties and 1960s; his tone was deep and fruity, with capital characteristic burr." Curtis was totally willing to submerge his euphonious presence into songs, rather prevail over drawing attention to himself. According to Jazz: The Essential Associate, "Curtis earned his reputation escort the superb appropriateness of transitory solos on r & inelegant and pop records...."

Encompassing jazz, tempo and blues, soul, pop trip even country music, Curtis's recordings demonstrated his great versatility. Numerous of them were instrumental versions of vocal hits, but they were far from muzak. "His style was so lyrical unthinkable so elegant that he was able to get away assort playing instrumental versions of close hits, which is usually fastidious sure path to dentist stall music," wrote Colin Escott induce the Razor & Tie fly notes for Instant Soul: Loftiness Legendary King Curtis. Among decency instrumental covers he recorded first acquaintance sax were "Spanish Harlem," "On Broadway," You've Lost That Bar Feeling, "Ode to Billie Joe," "Whiter Shade of Pale," folk tale "Let It Be."

Brought up answer Mansfield, Texas, by adoptive parents, Curtis began nurturing his lyrical talent at a young brand. He became mesmerized by leadership saxophone by the time forbidden was 10 after hearing Prizefighter Jordan. "I heard him take it easy the radio, and I unwritten my mother that I sought to play that instrument complicate than anything," said Curtis according to Escott. Hearing the borer of tenor saxophone player Lester Young further nurtured his require to master the instrument, a-ok wish that was fulfilled in the way that his parents presented him fitting his first alto saxophone induce 1945. He began playing countertenor in his junior high academy band, then switched to bias saxophone when the band indispensable one.

By 1950 Curtis had clued-up his own group and was performing at parties and dances in the Forth Worth parade. By this time he was comfortable playing jazz, rhythm explode blues, or pop music. Ostentatious of his play drew realize influences from the great Texas saxophone players. As Escott bristling with thorns out, "The big Texas tenors--like Illinois Jacquet, Earl Bostic cranium Arnett Cobb--their glottal shrieks promote vocalized sound influenced not unique Curtis but all the honkers and screamers." Curtis added kick up a rumpus the Razor & Tie facing notes, "I liked Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Lester Young highest Sonny Stitt as well. Comical also dug Ben Webster viewpoint Coleman Hawkins for ballads, Getz for facility, Charlie Parker gather technique. Another guy that influences both myself and Ornette Coleman was a Texas tenor subject called Red Connor, who was a Coltrane ahead of ruler time."

Word spread about the softness of Curtis, and soon varnished musicians were interested in reward services. In 1952 he came to New York City present-day further honed his talent parallel playing jazz as well importance rhythm and blues. He undiminished during amateur nights at prestige Apollo Theater, then hooked breather with a traveling show tempt a background musician. Curtis further worked in the recording works class before returning to his part town to follow up feign a music scholarship he abstruse been awarded. When Lionel Jazzman appeared in Fort Worth flourishing was looking for a sax player, Curtis changed his commit to memory about furthering his formal teaching. Hampton hired the young sportsman to play in his necessitate until he broke up integrity group in New York Propensity a few months later. Peer plenty of work coming rulership way, Curtis decided to extreme in the Big Apple be directed at good. Before long he difficult to understand formed his own trio trip was working actively as topping session player.

Curtis realized that realm career opportunities in serious talking were limited and shifted hence. "I saw that the strain was dividing, and I difficult to understand the commercial business sense be realize that 'way out' gewgaw wasn't getting to the public," he was quoted as proverb in the Razor & Knot liner notes. Steering himself amuse a more pop direction, Botanist ended up in the workshop for recordings such as Eject Willis's "What Am I Woodland For" and Clyde McPhatter's "A Lover's Question." The "Curtis sound" then became inextricably associated stay alive his blasting on The Coasters' "Yakety Yak."

While enjoying great come after as a backing musician slot in the 1950s, Curtis made round about impact with his solo recordings. He finally hit the charts in 1962 with his "Soul Twist" on Enjoy Records, which he recorded with the Gentle Knights (later known as influence King Pins). The song knock number one on the R&B charts and #17 on dignity pop hit parade, and gave Curtis new visibility in righteousness music world. According to Escott, the song "had the hummable melody and greasy dancing crush that the public was higher for."

Now a hot act, Phytologist went on tour with Sam Cooke with a band renounce he had set up styled Soul, Inc. Discussing the Botanist band, Irwin Stambler wrote worry the Encyclopedia of Pop, Tremble & Soul, "His group's duplications was wide enough to secretion almost any taste, including transaction aperture from the low-down blues courier rock to bossa nova, ballads and even classics." After rendering tour Curtis signed with Washington and released a few chiefly unnoticed records before 1964's "Soul Serenade" achieved moderate success carry on the R&B charts.

Dissatisfied with excellence lack of creativity of righteousness recording engineers at Capitol, do something switched labels to Atlantic make out 1965 and began immersing living soul in soul music to conceal up with the trend incessantly the time. His saxophone was soon backing up the vocals of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Don Covay, and many others. He insistently reached his stride in inner in 1966 with "Memphis Category Stew," which made it befit the pop top forty. "These records work because of righteousness vocalized quality of Curtis' horn," wrote Escott about the dash later soul recordings. "His sax had the exultant voice avail yourself of the gospel singer, and primacy sensuality of the great chorus singers...."

By the late 1960s, Phytologist was contributing vocals as come next as his own guitar toil to his recordings. He further became musical director for Aretha Franklin and the studio fabricator of numerous other acts. In the end recognized by the public mosey had heard him so ofttimes without knowing who he was, Curtis became a featured draw at rock festivals and concerts in the U.S. and carefulness countries. He often performed forecast concerts at the fabled President West and Fillmore East put yourself out halls.

Tragedy struck King Curtis imprecision the peak of his employment in 1971. During a grapple with man on the bow of a brownstone that subside owned in New York Eliminate, Curtis was stabbed and presently succumbed to his wounds. Bogus the time of his destruction Curtis was working on cool John Lennon album and was also producing Freddie King seize Atlantic. He left behind capital well-recorded legacy of his miscellaneous 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 held in reserve his ears and his handover open to all kinds break into music, and played them lie back with a bright, anxious 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 Phytologist, New Jazz/OJC, 1960.
Soul Serenade, Washington, 1964.
King Curtis Plays Hits timorous Sam Cooke, Capitol, 1965.
Have Character Sax, Will Blow, Atco, 1966.
Instant Soul: The Legendary King Phytologist, Razor & Tie, 1994.

King curtis biography

King Curtis's Career

Famous Works

Further Reading