King Curtis
King Curtis was the last of the great R&B tenor sax giants. Born Curtis Ousley in Fort Worth, Texas, he came to prominence in the mid-'50s as a session musician in New York, recording, at one time or another, for most East Coast R&B labels. A long association with Atco/Atlantic began in 1958, especially on recordings by the Coasters. He recorded singles for many small labels in the '50s -- his own Atco sessions (1958-1959), and Prestige/New Jazz and Prestige/Tru-Sound for jazz and R&B albums (1960-1961). Curtis also had a number one R&B single with "Soul Twist" on Enjoy (1962). He was signed by Capitol (1963-1964), where he cut mostly singles, including the number 20 R&B hit "Soul Serenade." He returned to Atco/Atlantic in 1965, where he remained for the rest of his life. He had solid R&B single success with "Memphis Soul Stew" and "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967). Beginning in 1967, Curtis started to take a more active studio role at Atlantic, leading and contracting sessions for other artists, producing with Jerry Wexler, and later on his own. He also became the leader of Aretha Franklin's backing unit, the Kingpins. He compiled several albums of singles during this period. All aspects of his career were in full swing at the time he was murdered in 1971. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
© Bob Porter /TiVo
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Discography
483 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Blues At Montreux (Live)
R&B - Released by Rhino Atlantic on Apr 26, 1971
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Soul Battle (Remastered 1992)
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest
Jazz - Released by Original Jazz Classics on Sep 9, 1960
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
King Curtis: Memphis Soul Stew
Miscellaneous - Released by Warner Music Group - X5 Music Group on Aug 7, 2018
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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The Best Of King Curtis
Jazz - Released by Blue Note Records on Jan 1, 1996
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Have Tenor Sax Will Blow
R&B - Released by Rhino Atlantic on Feb 12, 1959
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Soul Battle (Remastered)
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest
Soul - Released by RevOla on Jul 11, 2019
Available in24-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Soul Twist with King Curtis
King Curtis, The Noble Knights
Jazz - Released by Good Time Records on Sep 17, 2021
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Giants Of Jazz
Jazz - Released by Harlem Jazz Records on Dec 9, 2022
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Live At Small's Paradise (Live at Small's Paradise)
R&B - Released by Rhino on Feb 12, 1966
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The New Scene of King Curtis (Original Album Plus Bonus Tracks 1960)
Pop - Released by Soul Story on Jan 1, 2012
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Soul Street
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis, Jimmy Forrest
Jazz - Released by Dobre Classic Media on Apr 3, 2010
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Soul Twist/Memphis Soul Stew
Rock - Released by Vogue Oldies on Sep 13, 1969
Available in24-Bit/48 kHz Stereo -
The Best of King Curtis
Soul - Released by Enjoy Records on Jun 28, 1965
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Wail Man Wail! The Best of King Curtis 1952-1961
Blues - Released by Fantastic Voyage on Sep 16, 2012
Available in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -