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

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Role
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
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
Decca	106558		2/11/1959	You pretty thing	Tony Conn	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	107120		4/23/1959	When sin stops-1	Waylon Jennings	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	107121		4/23/1959	Jole blon	Waylon Jennings	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	107927		10/7/1959	Wonderful girl	Bill Baker	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	107928		10/7/1959	Chit chat	Bill Baker	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111525		1/5/1962	Tammy	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111526		1/5/1962	Chattanooga choo choo	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111527		1/5/1962	A-tisket, a-tasket	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111528		1/5/1962	When the Saints go twistin' in	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111529		1/10/1962	Hawaiian war chant	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111530		1/10/1962	Blueberry hill	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111531		1/10/1962	Begin the beguine	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111532		1/10/1962	The dipsy doodle	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111533		1/10/1962	The music goes 'round and around	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111534		1/10/1962	Christopher Columbus	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111535		1/10/1962	My reverie	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111536		1/10/1962	Organ grinder's swing	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	111537		1/10/1962	In the mood	Chuck Marshal and the Twist All Stars	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	112352		6/19/1962	Reminiscing	Buddy Holly	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	112762		11/14/1962	Reminiscing	Buddy Holly	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone
Decca	114367		1/15/1964	Come back baby	Buddy Holly	instrumentalist, tenor saxophone

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curtis, King," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.

Curtis, King. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/310546.

"Curtis, King." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.