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.
Jole Blon
King Curtis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woman, let me sing you a song
That tells how you’ve done me wrong , so it’s your fault if it’s long
Woman let me sing you a song
Well, the neighbors all say, I run around
Yeah, the neighbors all say, I run around
But baby, if I do, I’m still miles in back off you
You tell our friends I drink too much
Now the whole town knows I drink too much
But the reason why I drink is a thought you make to think
Woman let me sing you a song
Woman, let me sing you a song
Woman, let me sing you a song
I said, I’d die for you and I have the time or two
Woman let me sing you a song
Now, woman, I’ve done sang you my song
These lyrics from King Curtis’s “Jole Blon” tell the story of a man who feels wronged by his significant other. He asks for her attention and begins by saying that he is going to sing her a song that recounts all the ways she has hurt him. He also blames her for the song possibly being long due to her actions. The man goes on to talk about how his neighbors have accused him of cheating, but even if he has, he still pales in comparison to the hurt she has caused him. The woman apparently tells their friends that he drinks too much, and the man reveals that he does it due to the pain and stress she puts him through. Despite it all, he professes his love for her and sings her another song.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman, let me sing you a song
Asking permission to express his feelings
Woman, let me sing you a song
Reiterating the request to express
That tells how you’ve done me wrong, so it’s your fault if it’s long
Blaming the woman for his longer song due to her actions towards him
Woman let me sing you a song
Requesting again to express his feelings
Well, the neighbors all say, I run around
Acknowledging rumors of infidelity
Yeah, the neighbors all say, I run around
Confirming rumors of infidelity
But baby, if I do, I’m still miles in back off you
Even if he were unfaithful, she is still in the wrong for mistreating him
Woman let me sing you a song
Still requesting to express his feelings
You tell our friends I drink too much
Acknowledging criticism from others for his drinking
Now the whole town knows I drink too much
Confirming the criticism from others for his drinking
But the reason why I drink is a thought you make to think
Blaming the woman for his drinking due to her actions towards him
Woman let me sing you a song
Requesting again to express his feelings
Woman, let me sing you a song
Reiterating the request to express
I said, I’d die for you and I have the time or two
Expressing his deep love for the woman and willingness to sacrifice himself for her
Woman let me sing you a song
Requesting again to express his feelings
Now, woman, I’ve done sang you my song
Ending the song on an expression of his thoughts and feelings
Lyrics © GLAD MUSIC CO.
Written by: BUDDY DEE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@albertobarrientozsr
When I was 20 ( 1989 ), I bought 10 albums that were 33's of Buddy Holly collection. That's when I first heard Jole Blon, and I loved it.
( I Still have my Buddy Holly records )
@PaulCookeMusic
Awesome track
@haraldkohlmann4756
Ein muß für jeden Buddy Holly Fan
@mapearce1
Imagine the blues players feelings when their music became rock and roll,....and there is nary a Scotsman alive who hasn't been peeved at anything other than bagpipes playing Amazing Grace! I own lots of versions of Jole Blon, and love 'em all!
@darrenringer9811
Why would they be angry at something that kicks so much ass?
@countrypaul
I have this 45 - had it since before anyone knew who Waylon Jennings was! Nice country track on the flip side. (And cool that you segued into Little Willie John's "Fever," too.) Thank you for the history; Normanm Petty's studio in Clovis recorded some great rock & roll and country records. Man - if Buddy had only lived....
@Amoeba744
Rest in peace Buddy and Waylon.
@danratliff4580
KIng you just hang in there.....???/
@BlindArthurBlake
@@danratliff4580 sadly, King Curtis was murdered in 1971
@clairebunt5887
This song is underrated i love this song that sax king kirtis is absolutely brilliant ❤❤❤❤