Eddie "Memphis" Evans Curtis, Jr. (17 July 1927 – 22 August 1983) was an American songwriter, born in Galveston, Texas.[1] He is credited as a co-writer along with Steve Miller and Ahmet Ertegun for "The Joker" by the Steve Miller Band, which became a U.S. number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week of January 12, 1974 [2] and U.K. No.1 single in 1990. "The Joker" used a line from Curtis's song, "Lovey Dovey", which was recorded by numerous artists, beginning with the R&B group The Clovers in 1954. Elements of "The Joker" were used for Shaggy's international number one hit "Angel" (2001), which Curtis also received a co-writing credit for.

Curtis also wrote Don Cherry's 1956 hit "Wild Cherry" and Connie Francis' 1959 hit "You're Gonna Miss Me."

Curtis wrote "It Should've Been Me,"[3] recorded by Ray Charles in 1953 for the Atlantic label. The song also appears on the album We've Got a Live One Here by Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, recorded in 1976, re-issued in 1996.

Unveiled by Louis Jordan in 1963, Curtis' tune "Hardhead" was first covered by Jordan himself on I Believe in Music (1973), and then in 1992 (as "Hard Head") on Robert Palmer's Ridin' High, accompanied by guitarist Johnny Winter and a big band directed by Clare Fischer. A French version was recorded by Henri Salvador as "Qu'ça saute" on Monsieur Henri (1994).

Curtis died of colon cancer in New York on 22 August 1983, aged 56.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 "Guide to the Eddie "Memphis" Curtis Collection". CBMR Collection Guides / Finding Aids. January 2020.
  2. ↑ Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits. Billboard Books. p. 353. ISBN 0-8230-7677-6
  3. ↑ ASCAP www.ascap.com


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