Clifford Curry

Clifford Curry Jr.[1] (November 3, 1936 – September 7, 2016)[2] was an American beach music, soul music, and R&B singer.

Clifford Curry
Background information
Also known asThe King Of Beach Music
Born(1936-11-03)November 3, 1936
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedSeptember 7, 2016(2016-09-07) (aged 79)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genresbeach music, soul music, R&B
Occupation(s)Singer
InstrumentsVocals

Early life and career

Curry was born on November 3, 1936 in the Bearden neighborhood of Knoxville, Tennessee.[2][3][4]

Curry's career began in high school and he was a member of several groups, including The Echoes, The Five Pennies (for whom he wrote a 1956 release, "Mr. Moon"), Hollyhocks (1957), and the Bubba Suggs Band (1957–1964). As Sweet Clifford he recorded for the Nashville-based Excello Records label, before beginning work with the Fabulous Six and the Contenders.[5] In 1967, he had a hit on the US R&B chart with "She Shot A Hole In My Soul", which was written by Mac Gayden and performed by Mac and his bandmates Kenny Buttrey and Norbert Putnam. They did the song just like the demo Mac had produced.

Despite its commercial failure at the time, his 1968 single "I Can't Get A Hold Of Myself" became a huge Northern Soul anthem from the start of the scene, being played extensively at the Twisted Wheel and Wigan Casino.

Buzz Cason produced.[4] Known as "The King Of Beach Music,"[6] Curry continued to play in the Southeastern United States with his brand of Carolina Beach Music, and was inducted into the Beach Music Hall of Fame in 1995, along with his peers Maurice Williams and Bill Pinkney.[7]

In 1997, Curry recorded an album titled Tennessee R&B Live with Earl Gaines and Roscoe Shelton.[8]

Curry joined and backed Faye Adams on her number one R&B smash "Shake a Hand".

Personal life

Curry resided in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2010, he was hospitalized for blood clots in his lungs. He suffered a stroke on August 29, 2016. Curry died, after being taken off of life support, in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee Medical Center on September 7, 2016, at the age of 79. He had also suffered from prostate cancer and diabetes.[2][9][10]

References
  1. "Clifford Curry". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  2. Fox, Randy (September 9, 2016). "Nashville R&B Hero Clifford Curry Dies at 79". Nashville Scene. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  3. "Clifford Curry Jr.'s Obituary on Knoxville News Sentinel". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. Hamilton, Andrew. "Clifford Curry". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  5. "Clifford Curry Biography". OLDIES.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  6. "Leo Martin". www.rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  7. "CBMA Hall of Fame". www.cammy.org. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  8. Eder, Bruce. "Earl Gaines". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
  9. Bledsoe, Wayne (September 8, 2016). "Clifford Curry, Knoxville-raised singer of 'She Shot a Hole In My Soul' dies". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
  10. Thanki, Juli (September 7, 2016). "R&B singer Clifford Curry dies at 79". The Tennessean. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
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