Jazz

United States

King Curtis

Top Songs By King Curtis

Memphis Soul StewKing Curtis

Listen to Soul Meeting by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

Soul MeetingKing Curtis

Listen to Our Love Will Never End by King Curtis & The Avons, see lyrics, music video & more!

Our Love Will Never EndKing Curtis & The Avons

Listen to The Weight (feat. Duane Allman) by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

The Weight (feat. Duane Allman)King Curtis

Listen to What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?King Curtis

Memphis Soul StewKing Curtis

Listen to The Christmas Song by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

The Christmas SongKing Curtis

Listen to Melancholy Serenade (Remastered '96) by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

Melancholy Serenade (Remastered '96)King Curtis

Listen to Soul Twist by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

Soul TwistKing Curtis

Listen to Soul Serenade by King Curtis, see lyrics, music video & more!

Soul SerenadeKing Curtis

More albums from King Curtis

ALBUMMonkey ShoutKing Curtis

ALBUMSoul MeetingKing Curtis

ALBUMDidn't He PlayKing Curtis

Listen to Everybody's Talkin' by King Curtis

ALBUMEverybody's Talkin'King Curtis

ALBUMGet ReadyKing Curtis

ALBUMInstant GrooveKing Curtis

ALBUMSweet SoulKing Curtis

Listen to Plays the Great Memphis Hits by King Curtis

ALBUMPlays the Great Memphis HitsKing Curtis

Listen to That Lovin' Feeling by King Curtis

ALBUMThat Lovin' FeelingKing Curtis

ALBUMSoul SerenadeKing Curtis

Listen to Soul Battle (Remastered 1992) by Oliver Nelson, King Curtis & Jimmy Forrest

ALBUMSoul Battle (Remastered 1992)Oliver Nelson, King Curtis & Jimmy Forrest

Listen to Soul Twist with King Curtis by King Curtis

ALBUMSoul Twist with King CurtisKing Curtis

Listen to Trouble In Mind (Remastered 1992) by King Curtis

ALBUMTrouble In Mind (Remastered 1992)King Curtis

Listen to Give a Twist Party by The Shirelles & King Curtis

ALBUMGive a Twist PartyThe Shirelles & King Curtis

Listen to The New Scene of King Curtis and Soul Meeting (feat. Nat Adderley & Wynton Kelly) by King Curtis Quintet

ALBUMThe New Scene of King Curtis and Soul Meeting (feat. Nat Adderley & Wynton Kelly)King Curtis Quintet

Listen to The New Scene Of King Curtis by King Curtis

ALBUMThe New Scene Of King CurtisKing Curtis

Listen to Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow by King Curtis

ALBUMHave Tenor Sax, Will BlowKing Curtis

Artist Playlists

King Curtis: The Session Musicians

Survey their best work on other artists’ albums—and sometimes their own as well.

About King Curtis

Hometown

Fort Worth, TX, United States

Born

February 7, 1934

Genre

Jazz

After cutting his teeth with Lionel Hampton's band, and lending his talents to various R&B sessions, sax player and band leader King Curtis hooked up with Atlantic Records, released his own excellent recordings, and became the leader of Aretha Franklin's backing band, producing and co-producing several of her finest albums. Playing buoyant, soulful instrumental versions of popular rock and soul tracks, Curtis was one of the few straight instrumentalists to find great success in the worlds of rock and R&B rather than jazz. One of the most influential sax players in rock history, Curtis was tragically murdered in New York City in 1971.

King Curtis has also released music as a member of King Curtis & The Noble Knights, Delaney & Bonnie, King Curtis and His Orchestra and King Curtis & The Kingpins.