King Curtis
Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an 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. A master of the instrument, he played tenor, alto, and soprano saxophone. He played riffs and solos on hit singles such as "Respect" by Aretha Franklin (1967), and "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters (1958) and his own "Soul Twist" (1962), "Soul Serenade" (1964), and "Memphis Soul Stew" (1967). |
Birth and Death Data: Born February 7, 1934 (Fort Worth), Died August 13, 1971 (Manhattan)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1957 - 1964
Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings (Results 1-25 of 51 records)
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlantic | 2930 | 10-in. | 1/22/1958 | Jump for joy | Howard Biggs' Orchestra ; Joe Turner | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Atlantic | 2931 | 10-in. | 1/22/1958 | Blues in the night | Howard Biggs' Orchestra ; Joe Turner | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Atlantic | 3131 | 10-in. | 9/11/1958 | Dix-a-billy | LaVern Baker ; Marcia Neil | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Atlantic | 3132 | 10-in. | 9/11/1958 | I cried a tear | LaVern Baker | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Atlantic | 3361 | 10-in. | 2/12/1959 | For love of you | LaVern Baker ; Elise Bretton | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | ||
Decca | 103662 | 11/13/1957 | Lady whistle bait | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103663 | 11/13/1957 | Fandango rock | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103664 | 11/13/1957 | Cool Papa | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103665 | 11/13/1957 | Teenage strut | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103681 | 11/15/1957 | Two good guys | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103682 | 11/15/1957 | Tuxedo junction | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103683 | 11/15/1957 | In a little Spanish town | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103684 | 11/15/1957 | Pushing | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103746 | 11/22/1957 | Split level | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103747 | 11/22/1957 | A stomping good time | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103748 | 11/22/1957 | Two head | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 103749 | 11/22/1957 | Campus rumpus | Alan Freed Rock 'n' Roll Band | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104310 | 2/3/1958 | Night ride | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104311 | 2/3/1958 | Flip flap | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104312 | 2/3/1958 | Big 'n bad | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104313 | 2/3/1958 | Gosah | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104314 | 2/4/1958 | The king | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104315 | 2/4/1958 | Shufflin' | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104316 | 2/4/1958 | Street with a beat | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone | |||
Decca | 104317 | 2/4/1958 | All tore up | The King's Henchmen | instrumentalist, tenor saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, King," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.
Curtis, King. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.
"Curtis, King." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: King Curtis
Discogs: King Curtis
Allmusic: King Curtis
Apple Music: King Curtis
Grove: King Curtis
Britannica: King Curtis
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Curtis, King, 1934-1971 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n87118070
Wikidata: King Curtis - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1345099
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/195756
MusicBrainz: King Curtis - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/151231cb-fca6-42e0-976a-66b07193d657
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