King Curtis

Curtis Ousley, noto come King Curtis (Fort Worth, 7 febbraio 1934 – New York, 13 agosto 1971), è stato un sassofonista statunitense.

Biografia

Originario del Texas, ha iniziato a suonare il sassofono da piccolo specializzandosi non solo nel jazz, ma anche nel R&B e nel pop/folk. Ha collaborato con Lionel Hampton prima di trasferirsi a New York nel 1952, dove è diventato un apprezzato turnista per diverse case discografiche. Ha registrato con Andy Williams, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Forrest, Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Buddy Holly e Nina Simone.
Nel 1965 ha firmato un contratto con Atlantic Records e ha registrato con artisti del calibro di Aretha Franklin, The Beatles e altri.
Nel 1971, a soli 37 anni, è stato ucciso accoltellato durante una lite.
Era noto per i suoi riff e per gli assoli, come quelli di I Put a Spell on You (con Nina Simone), Yakety Yak o Memphis Soul Stew.

Premi e riconoscimenti

Nel 1970 ha vinto il Grammy Award per la "miglior interpretazione strumentale R&B" (Games People Play).
Nel marzo 2000 è stato inserito nella Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Discografia

King Curtis

The Good Old Fifties (1959)
Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow (1959)
Azure (1960)
King Soul (1960)
Soul Meeting (1960)
The New Scene of King Curtis (1960)
Party Time (1961)
Trouble in Mind (1961)
Old Gold (1961)
Night Train (1961)
Doin' the Dixie Twist (1962)
Country Soul (1962)
Soul Twist and other Golden Classics (1962)
It's Party Time (1962)
The Best of (1962)
Soul Serenade (1964)
Plays Hits made by Sam Cooke (1965)
That Lovin' Feeling (1966)
Live at Small's Paradise (1966)
Play Great Memphis Hits (1967)
Memphis Soul Stew (1967) #33 Pop, #6 R&B
Sweet Soul (1968)
Sax in Motion (1968)
Instant Groove (1969)
Everybody's Talkin (1970)
Get Ready (1970)
Blues at Montreux (1971)
Live at Fillmore West (1971)

King Curtis and The Kingpins

Soul Twist (1962) with The Noble Knights
The Shirelles & King Curtis Give A Twist Party (1962) with The Shirelles a/k/a Eternally, Soul (1968)
King Size Soul (1967)
Live at Fillmore West (1971)

Curtis Ousley (February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), who performed under the stage name King Curtis, was an American saxophonist known for rhythm and blues, rock and roll, soul, blues, funk and soul jazz. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer. Adept at tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone, he was best known for his distinctive riffs and solos such as on "Yakety Yak", which later became the inspiration for Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax" and his own "Memphis Soul Stew".

Early life

The son of Ethel Montgomery, he was born Curtis Montgomery in Fort Worth, Texas, and was adopted, with his sister Josephine Allen, by Josie and William Ousley. Curtis Ousley attended I.M. Terrell High School, and studied and performed music with schoolmate Ornette Coleman.

Career

Curtis started playing saxophone at the age of twelve in the Fort Worth area. He took interest in many musical genres including jazz, rhythm and blues, and popular music. As a student pursuing music, he turned down college scholarships in order to join the Lionel Hampton Band. During his time with Hampton, he was able to write and arrange music and learn guitar. In 1952 Curtis decided to move to New York and became a session musician, recording for such labels as Prestige, Enjoy, Capitol, and Atco. He recorded with Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings and Andy Williams

Stylistically, Curtis took inspiration from saxophonists Lester Young, Louis Jordan, Illinois Jacquet, Earl Bostic, and Gene Ammons. Known for his syncopated and percussive style, he was both versatile and powerful as a musician. He put together a group during his time as a session musician that included Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, and Bernard Purdie.

Move into rock

Curtis enjoyed playing both jazz and rhythm and blues but decided he would make more money as a rhythm and blues musician. In a 1971 interview with Charlie Gillett he said: "I love the authentic rhythm and blues more than anything, and I also like to live well." From the 1950s until the mid-1960s, he worked as a session musician, recording under his own name and with others such as The Coasters, with whom he recorded "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown", among others. Buddy Holly hired him for session work, during which they recorded "Reminiscing." Holly wrote this song, but gave Curtis the songwriting credit for flying down to the session. His best-known singles from this period are "Soul Twist"—his highest-charting single, reaching number one on the R&B chart and number 17 on the Billboard pop chart—and "Soul Serenade." He provided backing on a number of songs for LaVern Baker, including her 1958 hit single "I Cried a Tear", where his saxophone became "a second voice".
In 1965 he moved to Atlantic Records and recorded his most successful singles, "Memphis Soul Stew" and "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967). He worked with The Coasters, and led Aretha Franklin's backing band the Kingpins. The Kingpins opened for the Beatles during their 1965 performance at Shea Stadium. Curtis produced records, often working with Jerry Wexler and recorded for Groove Records during this period, including the Joe South song "Games People Play" with guitarist Duane Allman.
In March 1971 he appeared with Aretha Franklin and the Kingpins at the Fillmore West, which resulted in two live albums: Aretha Live at Fillmore West, and Curtis' own Live at Fillmore West. In July 1971, Curtis recorded saxophone solos on "It's So Hard" and "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" from John Lennon's Imagine. Along with the Rimshots, he recorded the original theme song for the 1971 hit television show Soul Train, titled "Hot Potatoes".
On June 17, 1971 Curtis played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, in the Casino Kursaal, with Champion Jack Dupree, backed by Cornell Dupree on guitar, Jerry Jemmott on bass and Oliver Jackson on drums. The recording of the concert was later released as the 1973 album King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree – Blues at Montreux on the Atlantic label.

Death

Curtis was killed on August 13, 1971, when he was stabbed during an argument with a pair of drug dealers he discovered on the steps outside his Manhattan apartment. Curtis was attempting to carry an air conditioner into his apartment when Juan Montanez refused to move from the entrance. A fight ensued and Montanez stabbed Curtis. Curtis later died at Roosevelt Hospital. In March 1972, Montanez was sentenced to seven years for second-degree manslaughter, but was released in late 1977 for good behavior.
On the day of Curtis's funeral Atlantic Records closed their offices. Jesse Jackson administered the service and as the mourners filed in, Curtis's band, the Kingpins, played "Soul Serenade". Among those attending were Ousley's immediate family, including sister Josephine Ousley Allen, other family members, Aretha Franklin, Cissy Houston, Brook Benton and Duane Allman. Franklin sang the closing spiritual "Never Grow Old" and Stevie Wonder performed "Abraham, Martin and John and now King Curtis".
Curtis was buried in a red granite-fronted wall crypt in the 'West Gallery of Forsythia Court' mausoleum at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, New York, the same cemetery where Count Basie and John Coltrane are buried.

Awards

In 1970, a year before his death, Curtis won the Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy for "Games People Play". He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 6, 2000.

Discography

Chart singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions
Year	Single	US Pop	US R&B
1962	"Soul Twist" King Curtis and the Noble Knights	17	1
1962	"Beach Party" King Curtis and the Noble Knights	60	-
1963	"Do the Monkey" King Curtis	92	-
1964	"Soul Serenade" King Curtis	51	*
1965	"Spanish Harlem" King Curtis	89	-
1967	"Something on Your Mind" King Curtis	-	31
	"Jump Back" King Curtis	63	-
	"Memphis Soul Stew" King Curtis	33	6
	"Ode to Billie Joe" The Kingpins	28	6
	"For What It's Worth" King Curtis & the Kingpins	87	-
	"I Was Made to Love Her" King Curtis & the Kingpins	76	49
1968	"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" King Curtis & the Kingpins	84	-
	"Valley of the Dolls" King Curtis & the Kingpins	83	-
	"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" King Curtis & the Kingpins	83	-
	"Harper Valley P.T.A." King Curtis & the Kingpins	93	-
1969	"Instant Groove" King Curtis & the Kingpins	-	35
1970	"Get Ready" King Curtis & the Kingpins	-	46
1971	"Whole Lotta Love" King Curtis & the Kingpins	64	43

Billboard did not publish an R&B chart during this period

Albums

King Curtis

The Good Old Fifties (1959)
Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow (1959)
Azure (1960)
King Soul (1960)
Soul Meeting (1960) Prestige: 7222
The New Scene of King Curtis (1960) New Jazz: NJLP 8237
Party Time (1961)
Trouble in Mind (1961)
Old Gold (1961)
Night Train (1961)
Music for Dancing – The Twist (1961)
Doin' the Dixie Twist (1962)
Country Soul (1962)
Soul Twist and other Golden Classics (1962)
It's Party Time (1962)
The Best of (1962)
Soul Serenade (1964)
Plays Hits made by Sam Cooke (1965)
That Lovin' Feeling (1966)
Live at Small's Paradise (1966)
Play Great Memphis Hits (1967)
Sweet Soul (1968)
Sax in Motion (1968)
Instant Groove (1969)
Everybody's Talkin (1970) (released 1972 posthumously)
Get Ready (1970)
Blues at Montreux (1971)
Live at Fillmore West (1971)
King Curtis & Champion Jack Dupree – Blues at Montreux (1973)
Wail Man Wail! – The Best of King Curtis 1952–1961 (2012, 3 CD, Fantastic Voyage-Future Noise)
Sax Scene (Compilation of The New Scene of King Curtis (1960) and Soul Meeting (1960)) (2013, 2 CD, Not Now Music)
The Complete Atco Singles" (2015, 3 CD, Real Gone Music/Rhino

King Curtis and The Kingpins

Soul Twist (1962) with The Noble Knights
The Shirelles & King Curtis Give A Twist Party (1962) with The Shirelles a/k/a Eternally, Soul (1968)
King Size Soul (1967)
Live at Fillmore West (1971)

As sideman

With Ruth Brown

Miss Rhythm (Atlantic, 1959)

With Ray Bryant

MCMLXX (Atlantic, 1970) – guest on 1 track

With Sam Cooke

Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963

With Jimmy Forrest

Soul Street (New Jazz, 1960)

With Herbie Mann

Our Mann Flute (Atlantic , 1966)
The Beat Goes On (Atlantic, 1967)

With Oliver Nelson

Soul Battle (Prestige, 1960) – with Jimmy Forrest

With Shirley Scott

Shirley Scott & the Soul Saxes (Atlantic, 1969)

With Sunnyland Slim

Slim’s Shout (Bluesville, 1961)

With Roosevelt Sykes

The Honeydripper (Bluesville, 1961)

King Curtis - Memphis Soul Stew - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukOs3am7CtE

Testo

Today's special is Memphis Soul Stew
We sell so much of this, people wonder what we put in it
We gonna tell you right now
Give me about a half a teacup of bass

Now I need a pound of fatback drums

Now give me four tablespoons of boiling Memphis guitars
This goin' taste alright

Now just a little pinch of organ

Now give me a half a pint of horn

Place on the burner and bring to a boil
That's it, that's it, that's it right there.
Now beat, well.

Compositori: Curtis Ousley

Testo di Memphis Soul Stew © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

King Curtis - Watermelon Man - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1sDV-vqo_8

Aggiungi didascalia

Testo

On her way to work one morning
Down the path along side the lake
A tender hearted woman saw a poor half frozen snake
His pretty colored skin had been all frosted with the dew
"Poor thing, " she cried, "I'll take you in and I'll take care of you"
"Take me in tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman, " sighed the snake

She wrapped him up all cozy in a comforter of silk
And laid him by her fireside with some honey and some milk
She hurried home from work that night and soon as she arrived
She found that pretty snake she'd taken to had been revived
"Take me in, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman, " sighed the snake

She clutched him to her bosom, "You're so beautiful, " she cried
"But if I hadn't brought you in by now you might have died"
She stroked his pretty skin again and kissed and held him tight
Instead of saying thanks, the snake gave her a vicious bite
"Take me in, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman, " sighed the snake
"I saved you, " cried the woman
"And you've bitten me, but why?
You know your bite is poisonous and now I'm going to die"
"Oh shut up, silly woman, " said the reptile with a grin
"You knew damn well I was a snake before you took me in
"Take me in, tender woman
Take me in, for heaven's sake
Take me in, tender woman, " sighed the snake

Compositori: Milan Pilar

"Soul Serenade" (live) King Curtis & The Kingpins - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvEYg16GtL8

Testo

Oh western union man
Send a telegram to my baby
Send a telegram, send a telegram
Who, send a telegram to my baby
This is what I want you to do
I want you to tell her that I'm all alone
I tried to call her on the phone
Tell her I'm in misery
And think she's avoiding me
And if the telegram don't do
Send a box of candy too
And maybe some flowers
Tell her that I missed her for hours and hours
Send a telegram, send a telegram
Send a telegram man
To my baby you hear what I say
Oh western union man send a telegram
Send a telegram to my baby
Oh western union man
Hey send a telegram
Send a telegram, send a telegram
Oh send a telegram to my baby
This is what I want you to do
Listen, tell me have you got a boy you can send
This is what I want him to do
Put him on his bike right away
See if he can get my message through
Maybe tomorrow
But mail it right away
I want the girl to know that I miss her
Something like yesterday
Send a telegram, send a telegram man
To my baby
Do you hear what I say
Oh western union man why don't you send a telegram
Oh send a telegram to my baby
Western union man send a telegram
Oh send it right on to my baby
Hey western union man
Send a telegram, send a telegram

Compositori: Luther Dixon / Curtis Ousley