I’d like to know King Curtis’ work better. I really only know (and love) his biggest radio hit, “Memphis Soul Stew” and a few things he did with Clapton.
King played sax on all the Coasters' hits and many others of that era. He also briefly had a fine jazz quintet, which I saw live in small Philly club; he came and sat with me in a break because he was touched that I knew his jazz repertoire so well and made a couple of requests. You may know he was murdered in front of his own place in Harlem.No killer was ever found.
That jazz combo would be cool to hear. I am fairly familiar with the Coasters’ hits but didn’t know he was in them. There was a lot of that sax style in the old rock and roll records, but my time really starts with the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, or maybe Rick Nelson but I would have been in kindergarten. I think Memphis Soul Stew was a late hit, about 67 or 68, so 10 years roughly after the Coasters.
Great stuff! The essay, which from the intro I expected a political rant, is very touching. The poem I’ve read before in your book. It reminds me, in theme if not in style, of another favorite poet, BH Fairchild. You paint characters very well in prose and poetry.
Is Pete Fairchild a nickname, like Jack was for C.S Lewis?
What he goes by in conversation...
I’d like to know King Curtis’ work better. I really only know (and love) his biggest radio hit, “Memphis Soul Stew” and a few things he did with Clapton.
King played sax on all the Coasters' hits and many others of that era. He also briefly had a fine jazz quintet, which I saw live in small Philly club; he came and sat with me in a break because he was touched that I knew his jazz repertoire so well and made a couple of requests. You may know he was murdered in front of his own place in Harlem.No killer was ever found.
That jazz combo would be cool to hear. I am fairly familiar with the Coasters’ hits but didn’t know he was in them. There was a lot of that sax style in the old rock and roll records, but my time really starts with the Beatles on Ed Sullivan, or maybe Rick Nelson but I would have been in kindergarten. I think Memphis Soul Stew was a late hit, about 67 or 68, so 10 years roughly after the Coasters.
Great stuff! The essay, which from the intro I expected a political rant, is very touching. The poem I’ve read before in your book. It reminds me, in theme if not in style, of another favorite poet, BH Fairchild. You paint characters very well in prose and poetry.
honored by the way to be compared to Pete Fairchild!
"the darkness shows up early” — That it does. (Lord, have mercy.)