Curtis Knight
Curtis Knight | |
---|---|
Birth name | Mont Curtis McNear |
Born | Fort Scott, Kansas, U.S. | May 9, 1929
Died | November 29, 1999 Lelystad, Flevoland, Netherlands | (aged 70)
Genres | Rhythm and blues, soul, rock |
Occupation | Musician |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1960s–1999 |
Labels | RSVP, Capitol, London, President |
Curtis Knight (May 9, 1929 – November 29, 1999), born Mont Curtis McNear, was an American musician who is known for his connection to Jimi Hendrix.
Knight was a singer in the 1960s Harlem R&B music scene, usually fronting his own band, the Squires.[1] In 1965, with Hendrix as guitarist, he recorded some singles and demos for record producer Ed Chalpin.[2][3] Chalpin also signed Hendrix to a management contract, which Hendrix soon forgot about and left for England in 1966 to form the Jimi Hendrix Experience.[4] After Hendrix became famous, Knight and Chalpin issued hundreds of albums of the recordings with Hendrix, resulting in years of legal action by both sides.[5][6]
During the 1970s, after Hendrix's demise, Knight moved to London, where he formed the group "Curtis Knight, Zeus", and toured throughout Europe, relying on his Hendrix connection for many years. Among the musicians enlisted was Fast Eddie Clarke, who later joined Motörhead.
Knight wrote the book Jimi: An Intimate Biography of Jimi Hendrix, published in 1974 by W.H Allen (hardcover) and Star Books (paperback) in London, and by Praeger Publishers, New York. The book includes A Jimi Hendrix Discography, compiled by John McKellar. Knight also wrote a second book on Hendrix, titled Starchild, published by Abelard Productions in the mid-1990s.[7] Knight was also a competitive table tennis player who played in some local tournaments while living in New York. In 1992, Knight relocated to the Netherlands where he continued to record up to his death from cancer in November 1999.[7]
Family background
Knight is related to singer Barbara McNair who is reportedly his cousin.[8][9]
Partial discography
In 2003, Hendrix's estate finally prevailed in their legal actions against Chalpin and gained control of all of Hendrix's recordings associated with Knight, Chalpin, and PPX.[6] Experience Hendrix, which currently manages Hendrix's recording legacy, has begun releasing the material he recorded with Knight.[10] Much of it has been sonically restored and removes later overdubs and electronic effects.[11]
Singles
- "Voodoo Woman" / "That's Why" – Curtis Knight (1961, Gulf)
- "You're Gonna Be Sorry" / "Little Doe-Doe" – Curtis Knight (1962, Shell)
- "Ain't Gonna Be No Next Time" / "More Love" – Curtis Knight (1965, RSVP)
- "How Would You Feel" / "Welcome Home" – Curtis Knight (1965, RSVP)
- "Hornet's Nest" / "Knock Yourself Out" – Curtis Knight and the Squires (1966, RSVP)
- "You Don't Want Me" / "How Would You Feel" – Curtis Knight and Jimi Hendrix (1967, Track Records)
- "Hush Now" / "Flashing" – Jimi Hendrix and Curtis Knight (1967, London Records)
- "Day Tripper" / "Love, Love" – Jimi Hendrix and Curtis Knight (1967, London Records)
- "Ballad of Jimi" / "Gloomy Monday" – Curtis Knight and Jimi Hendrix (1970, London Records)
Albums
- Get That Feeling – "Jimi Hendrix Plays and Curtis Knight Sings" (1967, Capitol Records)
- Flashing – "Jimi Hendrix Plays and Curtis Knight Sings" (1968, Capitol Records)
- Love, Peace & Freedom – (1972, Decca)
- You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions – Curtis Knight and the Squires (2015, Legacy Recordings)
- Live at George’s Club 20 1965 & 1966 – Curtis Knight Featuring Jimi Hendrix (2017, Dagger Records)
Notes
Citations
- ^ McDermott 2015, p. 4.
- ^ Roby 2002, p. 43.
- ^ Roby & Schreiber 2010, pp. 205–206.
- ^ Shapiro & Glebbeek 1990, pp. 95–96.
- ^ Shapiro & Glebbeek 1990, pp. 676–577.
- ^ a b McDermott 2015, p. 1.
- ^ a b Roby 2002, p. 44.
- ^ President Records Website - Curtis Knight
- ^ Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Titans By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Larry Greene
- ^ "You Can't Use My Name - The RSVP/PPX Sessions To Be Released March 24". JimiHendrix.com (official website). February 18, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
- ^
"Dagger Records Releases 'Live At George's Club 20' Featuring Jimi Hendrix". JimiHendrix.com (official website). February 28, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
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References
- Knight-McConnell, Kathy (2010). Curtis Knight: Living in the Shadow of Jimi Hendrix. PublishAmerica. ISBN 978-1-4489-7064-3.
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(help) - McDermott, John (2015). You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions (Album booklet). Curtis Knight and the Squires. New York City: Legacy Recordings. 88875077992.
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(help) - Roby, Steven (2002). Black Gold: The Lost Archives of Jimi Hendrix. New York City: Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7854-X.
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(help) - Roby, Steven; Schreiber, Brad (2010). Becoming Jimi Hendrix. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-81910-0.
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(help) - Shapiro, Harry; Glebbeek, Cesar (1990). Jimi Hendrix: Electric Gypsy. New York City: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-05861-6.
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External links
- Curtis Knight discography at Discogs