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.
Stupid Cupid
King Curtis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I would like to express my thanks
I trusted you implicitly
But What a double-crosser you turned out to be
Stupid Cupid You're a real mean guy
I'd like to clip your wings so you can't fly
I'm in love and it's a crying shame
Hey Hey Set me Free
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
I can't do my homework and I can't think straight
I meet her every morning bout half past eight
I'm acting like a lovesick fool
You've even got me carrying your books to school
Hey Hey Set me Free
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
You messed me up for good right from the very start
Hey now, go play Robin Hood with somebody else's heart
You got me jumping like a crazy clown
and I don't feature what your putting down
Well since I kissed her loving lips of wine
the thing that bothers me is that I like it fine
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
Hey Hey set me free
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
You got me jumping like a crazy clown
and I don't feature what your putting down
Hey since I kissed her loving lips of wine
the thing that bothers me is that I like it fine
Hey Hey set me free
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
The song "Cupid" by King Curtis is a playful and upbeat take on the frustration and foolishness that comes with falling in love. The singer of the song, addressing the mythological figure of Cupid, expresses his gratitude for the initial help of the little god before revealing that he has actually made a mess of things. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer has fallen deeply in love with someone but is unable to focus on anything else as a result. He blames Cupid for his predicament, singing, "Stupid Cupid, you're a real mean guy...I'm in love and it's a crying shame, and I know that you're the one to blame."
Line by Line Meaning
My Fine feathered friend with your cute little pranks,
Addressing Cupid as a sarcastic, unreliable friend with his mischievous tricks.
I would like to express my thanks
Expressing gratitude for all the trouble he caused.
I trusted you implicitly
Having blind faith that Cupid would help in finding true love.
But What a double-crosser you turned out to be
Realizing the betrayal of Cupid's love game, leaving with emotional turmoil.
Stupid Cupid You're a real mean guy
Saying Cupid is heartless and wicked.
I'd like to clip your wings so you can't fly
Wishing to stop Cupid's mischievous plans once and for all.
I'm in love and it's a crying shame
Feeling embarrassed by the love that Cupid's arrow forced upon.
and I know that you're the one to blame
Holding Cupid responsible for bringing this love torment.
Hey Hey Set me Free
Begging Cupid to release from the love's shackles.
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
Demanding Cupid to stop harassing with the love chaos.
I can't do my homework and I can't think straight
Distracted by love, failing to focus on studies and everyday life.
I meet her every morning bout half past eight
Being smitten with love, missing no chance to see the beloved one.
I'm acting like a lovesick fool
Driven by Cupid's arrow, losing common sense and self-control.
You've even got me carrying your books to school
Being compelled by love to do romantic gestures like helping the loved one with routine tasks.
You messed me up for good right from the very start
Blaming Cupid for ruining the chance of leading an emotion-free life after getting caught in the love web.
Hey now, go play Robin Hood with somebody else's heart
Comparing Cupid's games to that of Robin Hood's robbing of other people's hearts for his pleasure.
You got me jumping like a crazy clown
Feeling ridiculous and foolish due to the love spell cast by Cupid.
and I don't feature what your putting down
Disapproving of Cupid's actions and not interested in the heartbreak.
Well since I kissed her loving lips of wine
Experiencing joyful romantic moments when kissed by the loved one.
the thing that bothers me is that I like it fine
Being happy but also worried that Cupid's love might lead to more pain.
Hey Hey set me free
Appealing to Cupid to set free from the love curse.
Stupid Cupid stop picking on me
Concluding the plea to Cupid to stop messing with emotions.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind