Curtis Knight

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.

Curtis Knight
Birth nameMont Curtis McNear
Born(1929-05-09)May 9, 1929
Fort Scott, Kansas, U.S.
DiedNovember 29, 1999(1999-11-29) (aged 70)
Lelystad, Flevoland, Netherlands
GenresRhythm and blues, soul, rock
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1960s–1999
LabelsRSVP, Capitol, London, President
Associated actsCurtis Knight and the Squires, 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

Notes

Citations

  1. McDermott 2015, p. 4.
  2. Roby 2002, p. 43.
  3. Roby & Schreiber 2010, pp. 205–206.
  4. Shapiro & Glebbeek 1990, pp. 95–96.
  5. Shapiro & Glebbeek 1990, pp. 676–577.
  6. McDermott 2015, p. 1.
  7. Roby 2002, p. 44.
  8. President Records Website - Curtis Knight
  9. Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Titans By Marv Goldberg, based on an interview with Larry Greene
  10. "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.
  11. "Dagger Records Releases 'Live At George's Club 20' Featuring Jimi Hendrix". JimiHendrix.com (official website). February 28, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

References

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