Curtis Gordon
Curtis Gordon (born July 27, 1928 - May 2, 2004 ) was an American country and rockabilly singer. His titles often included influences from country musicians Ernest Tubb and Bob Wills . His nickname was Mr. Personality .
Life
Childhood and youth
As a young boy, Curtis Gordon was influenced by the greats of country music Ernest Tubb and Bob Wills. He also often listened to old Jimmie Rodgers records , which also had a lasting influence on him. After winning a local talent contest, Gordon left school as a teenager to start his own band. But soon he returned to school because of his parents, but continued to play in a band.
Career
After winning a competition in Atlanta , Georgia with his own western swing band in 1952 , he got a recording deal with RCA Victor . Gordon's first recordings there were a mixture of the western swing Bob Wills' and Hank Thompson as well as the honky tonk Ernest Tubbs, making them part of the so-called country boogie . A good example is Rompin 'and Stompin' from 1953. In the same year he had the opportunity to make his first appearances in the Grand Ole Opry and to play as a background musician for Tubb and Hank Snow . From 1953 Gordon was also a regular on the local country show Dixie Barn Dance on WKAB in Mobile , Alabama .
But after two relatively successful years at RCA, Gordon moved to Mercury Records in 1954 . From 1956 he changed his music towards rockabilly . His 1956 titles Mobile, Alabama and Draggin ' became classics of the genre. Meanwhile, he had his own radio show in Mobile. But the big breakthrough would never come, even if some of his tracks were re-recorded by George Jones and he was friends with the successful country singer Roger Miller .
Gordon had his last recording deal with Dollie Records in the early 1960s, after which he ran a dance club in Georgia until the 1980s . During the rockabilly revival, Gordon appeared again in public and also gained fame in Europe .
Curtis Gordon died on May 2, 2004 at the age of 76. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame for his contributions to rockabilly music .
Discography
Singles
| year | title | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RCA Victor | |||
| 1952 | The Greatest Sin / You Ain't Seen Nothin 'Yet | ||
| 1953 | If You Tell Me One More Lie / What's a Little Pride | ||
| 1953 | Rocky Road of Love / Rompin 'and Stompin' | ||
| 1953 | I Just Don't Love You Anymore / Where You'd Get So Much Of | ||
| 1953 | Little Bo-Peep / Tell 'Em No. | ||
| 1954 | I'd Do It for You / You Crazy, Crazy Moon | ||
| 1954 | Divided Heart / Caffeine and Nicotine | ||
| 1954 | Baby, Baby Me / I'd Like to Tell To | ||
| Mercury Records | |||
| 1955 | Chopsticks Mambo / Don't Trade | ||
| 1955 | Blue Lifetime / Baby, Please Come Home | ||
| 1955 | Our Secret Rendezvous / Girl With a Future | ||
| 1956 | Too Young to Know / Hello, Old Broken Heart | ||
| 1956 | Draggin ' / Mobile, Alabama | ||
| 1956 | Play the Music Louder / Hey, Mr. Sorrow | ||
| 1957 | So Tired of Crying / I Know My Baby's Gone | ||
| 1957 | Sittin 'on Top (Of The World) / Out to Win Your Heart | published by Mercury-Starday | |
| 1957 | Cry, Cry / Sixteen | published by Mercury Starday | |
| 1957 | I wouldn't / Please, Baby, Please | published by Mercury Starday | |
| Dollie Records | |||
| 1961 | Oh, Lonely Heart / Each Time You Go | ||
| 1962 | From Memphis to New Orleans / For the Last Time | ||
| Unpublished titles | |||
|
Mercury Records | ||
|
unknown | ||
Albums
- 1952: You ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Bear Family)
- 1985: Rock, Roll, Jump and Jive ( Bear Family )
- 1998: Play The Music Louder (Bear Family)
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Gordon, Curtis |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Mr. Personality |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country and rockabilly singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 27, 1928 |
| DATE OF DEATH | May 2, 2004 |