Curtis Ousley was adopted, with his sister, Josephine Ousley Allen. They were raised together in Fort Worth, Texas. Ousley attended I.M. Terrell High School, and studied and performed music with schoolmate Ornette Coleman.
Ousley started playing saxophone at the age of twelve in the Fort Worth area. He took interest in many musical genres including jazz, rhythm and blues, and popular music. As a student pursuing music, he turned down college scholarships in order to join the Lionel Hampton Band. During his time with Hampton, he was able to write and arrange music and learn guitar. In 1952 Curtis decided to move to New York and became a session musician, recording for such labels as Prestige, Enjoy, Capitol, and Atco. He recorded with Nat Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings and Andy Williams.
Stylistically, Curtis took inspiration from saxophonists Lester Young, Louis Jordan, Illinois Jacquet, Earl Bostic, and Gene Ammons. Known for his syncopated and percussive style, he was both versatile and powerful as a musician. He put together a group during his time as a session musician that included Richard Tee, Cornell Dupree, Jerry Jemmott, and Bernard Purdie.
King Curtis enjoyed playing jazz and rhythm & blues but decided he would make more money as a rhythm & blues musician, stating in a 1971 interview with Charlie Gillet that "I love the authentic rhythm & blues more than anything, and I also like to live well." From the 1950s until the mid-1960s, he worked as a session player, recording under his own name and with others such as The Coasters, with whom he recorded "Yakety Yak". Buddy Holly hired him for session work, during which they recorded "Reminiscing". Holly wrote this song, but gave Curtis the songwriting credit for flying down to the session. His best-known singles from this period are "Soul Twist" and "Soul Serenade". He provided backing on a number of songs for LaVern Baker, including her 1958 hit single "I Cried a Tear", where his saxophone became "a second voice".
In 1965, he moved to Atlantic Records and recorded his most successful singles, "Memphis Soul Stew" and "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967). He worked with The Coasters, led Aretha Franklin's backing band The Kingpins. The Kingpins opened for The Beatles during their 1965 performance at Shea Stadium. Curtis produced records, often working with Jerry Wexler and recorded for Groove Records during this period, including the Joe South song "Games People Play" with guitarist Duane Allman.
In March 1971 he appeared with Aretha Franklin and The Kingpins at the Fillmore West, which resulted in two live albums: "Aretha Live at Fillmore West", and Curtis' own "Live at Fillmore West". In July 1971, Curtis recorded saxophone solos on "It's So Hard" and "I Don't Wanna Be a Soldier" from John Lennon's Imagine. Along with The Rimshots, he recorded the original theme song for the 1971 hit television show, Soul Train, titled "Hot Potatoes".
Curtis was killed on August 13, 1971 when he was stabbed during an argument with a pair of drug dealers he discovered on the steps outside his Manhattan apartment. Curtis was attempting to carry an air conditioner into his apartment when Juan Montanez refused to move from the entrance. A fight ensued and Montanez stabbed Curtis. Curtis later died at Roosevelt Hospital. In March 1972, Montanez was sentenced to seven years for second-degree manslaughter, but was released in late 1977 for good behavior.
On the day of Curtis' funeral Atlantic Records closed their offices. Jesse Jackson administered the service and as the mourners filed in, Curtis' band 'The Kingpins' played "Soul Serenade". Among those attending were Ousley's immediate family, including sister Josephine Ousley Allen, other family members, Aretha Franklin, Cissy Houston, Brook Benton and Duane Allman. Franklin sang the closing spiritual "Never Grow Old" and Stevie Wonder performed "Abraham, Martin and John and now King Curtis".
Curtis was subsequently buried in a red granite-fronted wall crypt in the 'West Gallery of Forsythia Court' mausoleum at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale, New York, the same cemetery that holds jazz greats Count Basie and John Coltrane.
In 1970, a year before his death, Curtis won the Best R&B Instrumental Performance Grammy for "Games People Play".
Curtis was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 6, 2000.
Hey Jude
King Curtis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey Jude, don't let me down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
The movement you need is on your shoulder
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her under your skin
Then you'll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
The lyrics to King Curtis's version of Hey Jude are a powerful message of comfort and encouragement. The song begins with the line "Hey Jude, don't make it bad," which implies that the subject of the song (Jude) is going through a difficult time. The following lines, "Take a sad song and make it better," suggest that even in difficult times, there is hope for improvement.
The chorus repeats the message of hope, urging Jude to let someone into their heart in order to start the process of healing. There is also a refrain that emphasizes not letting the weight of the world weigh heavily on one's shoulders, and rejecting the idea that putting up a front of coolness or detachment is the best way to cope.
In the final verse, the song turns from consolation to motivation. The lines "So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin/You're waiting for someone to perform with" suggest that Jude has been waiting for someone to help them improve their situation, but that they are the only one who can truly make a change. The final lines, "The movement you need is on your shoulder/Hey Jude, don't make it bad" are an assertion that Jude has the power within themselves to make things better, but it is up to them to take action.
Overall, the lyrics of Hey Jude are a stirring message of hope and encouragement. It is a call to reject feelings of hopelessness and to take responsibility for one's own happiness and well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Don't worsen the situation, Hey Jude
Take a sad song and make it better
Use your creativity to improve things, by associating with a sad experience
Remember to let her into your heart
Don't keep your feelings to yourself, allow others to touch your soul
Then you can start to make it better
Only then, can you begin to bring about positive changes
Hey Jude, don't be afraid
Don't let fear stop you from being proactive
You were made to go out and get her
You have the ability to achieve your goals, so chase your dreams
The minute you let her under your skin
The moment you start relating deeply to someone
Then you begin to make it better
That's when you can start to feel positive change
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain
When you are going through tough times, try to avoid negative thoughts
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Don't try to take up too much for yourself, don't burden yourself unnecessarily
For well, you know that it's a fool who plays it cool
Keeping calm when you are actually falling apart is not a smart move
By making his world a little colder
By isolating yourself, you may end up creating a frosty atmosphere
Hey Jude, don't let me down
Hey Jude, don't disappoint me
You have found her, now go and get her
You know what you want, so gather the required courage to attain it
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin
Express your feelings and thoughts to yourself and to others, to start making progress
You're waiting for someone to perform with
You are expecting support, you want someone to stay with you and push you when you need motivation
And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do
Don't underestimate your abilities, you do not have to rely on anyone else
The movement you need is on your shoulder
The initiation and effort required to take action is all within yourself
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Don't let the situation deteriorate more
Take a sad song and make it better
Use the negativity to create something positive
Remember to let her under your skin
Remember to keep close to the things and people that matter to you
Then you'll begin to make it better better better better better better, oh
Then the changes will begin to build on each other and multiply positively
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude
A section of joyful music to lift your spirits and get you moving
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L.
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind