King Curtis

Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; 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 played riffs and solos on such hit singles as "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, and "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters (the latter of which later became the inspiration for Boots Randolph's "Yakety Sax") and his own "Memphis Soul Stew".

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 46 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
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  
Decca 104318 2/5/1958 Night flight The King's Henchmen instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 104319 2/5/1958 Deep down and low The King's Henchmen instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 104320 2/5/1958 Nine o'clock hop The King's Henchmen instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 104321 2/5/1958 Homework The King's Henchmen instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 106557 2/11/1959 Run rabbit run Tony Conn instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 46 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, King," accessed March 21, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.

Curtis, King. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.

"Curtis, King." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 21 March 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546

External Sources

Wikipedia: King Curtis

Discogs: King Curtis

Allmusic: 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

ISNI: 0000 0000 8079 586X - http://www.isni.org/isni/000000008079586X

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