King Curtis
NOTE: For the songwriter sometimes credited as Memphis Curtis, see . American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer. Born: February 7, 1934 in Fort Worth, Texas Died: August 13, 1971 in New York, New York Successful both as a solo artist -best known for his 1967 hit Memphis Soul Stew- as well as a session musician and producer. Curtis mainly played and composed rhythm and blues or soul but also some Rock and roll and great bop or soul jazz. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. From raresoul.com: “More than 2,000 people attended King Curtis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Midtown Manhattan. A number of important figures attended the services, including , her father , , , and , who delivered the eulogy. King Curtis is still by far, the most influential saxophone player in the history of R&B and Rock & Roll music. King Curtis played on thousands of records as the most in demand saxophone player, from the early 1950s until his death in August of 1971. He worked with a wide variety of artists ranging from and , to and . King Curtis began playing the saxophone at a young age in Fort Worth, Texas. He turned down a scholarship to pursue an opportunity as a member of ’s touring band. In 1952, King Curtis moved to New York to become one of the most in-demand session players, where his famous style of playing can be heard on classic songs like “Yakety Yak” by , “Twistin’ the Night Away” by , “Tossin’ and Turnin’ By and numerous others. In 1961, King Curtis released his own hit record with titled “Soul Twist,” which landed at #1 for two weeks in April of 1962. In 1965, he supported The Beatles at Shea Stadium , signed with Atlantic Records’ Atco imprint and in 1967, King Curtis hit big with the singles “Memphis Soul Stew” and “Ode To Billie Joe,” while also leading ’s backing band, . Just months before King Curtis was stabbed, he was featured as a guest on ’s landmark album Imagine.”
