Born in Mobile, Alabama, King was first influenced by his grandfather and father’s acoustic blues guitar playing, a style known as ‘vestapol’. Vestapol is generally associated with the deep south Delta sound of guitar driven Blues music played by the likes of Robert Johnson, Elmore James and Houston legend, Lightnin’ Hopkins. After moving to Syracuse, New York, King was exposed to the Chicago style Blues of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. King heard the sound that would profoundly influence his playing to this day. In 1986 he released his first single, “Sad & Blue”, as a 45 rpm record.
“I can hear the bass, drums, keyboards and vocals in my head. Then I’ll bring in the cats to make it right – make it come alive.”
Helping King’s latest recording project ‘come alive’ was legendary blues pianist, and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Pinetop Perkins. Perkins died in 2011 (at age 97) just after recording sessions with King at Houston’s Sugar Hill Studios. The CD is in the mixing phase and will be released in January of 2013.
King made Houston his home in 2006 and has been performing from Galveston (Crow’s Cantina among other venues) to Spring (The Spring Tavern) and beyond ever since.
He recently played the navasota Blues Festival and the Summertime bluesfest in Freeport Texas with Johnny Montrose from the Mama's Boys. He was also honored to play at Buddy Guy's Club in Chicago in 2014.
Portions of this bio where written by Zach Tate, taken from his interview in The Texas Music Profile
http://texasmusicprofile.blogspot.com/2012/11/texas-music-profile-curtis-king.htmlw with Curtis King
House of Blues Houston Texas