Curtis Lee

Curtis Lee ( born October 28, 1941 in Yuma, Arizona) is an American rock and roll singer in the 1960s who is best known for his hit Pretty Little Angel Eyes.

Life

In the late 1950s, Lee had unsuccessfully recorded singles already smaller labels and was also a singer in nightclubs in Arizona on the road, where even very successful singer Ray Peterson was aware of him. This then brought him to his record label Dunes Records, for which the producer Phil Spector worked.

The first Dunes recordings, Pledge of Love and Special Love, yet found any attention, but the biggest hit in 1961 was followed by Curtis Lee. Along with Tommy Boyce he had written the song Pretty Little Angel Eyes and in the production of Phil Spector the song was a top 10 success in the U.S.; the background vocals took over the doo-wop vocal quartet The Halos In the UK the song was recorded success and landed at least at number 47 on the charts.

It was followed by the single Under the Moon of Love, also a Boyce / Lee composition that brought it up to place 46 of the U.S. charts.

Thereafter, however, Phil Spector left the label and went with him of success. Curtis Lee was one of the typical teen singer around 1960, which disappeared from the scene after a short Hitkarriere. After four more unsuccessful singles in 1963 ended his contract with Dunes Records.

After four years, he returned once more in the style of Blue - Eyed Soul back, but after two more highly regarded but unsuccessful singles, his music career was finally over.

Cover versions

His two hits, however, should come back later to great honors: in 1976 had Showaddywaddy Under the Moon of Love with their biggest hit, reaching number 1 in the UK and number 4 in Germany. Two years later, they should also have their last Top 10 hit in their homeland with their version of Pretty Little Angel Eyes.

Discography

• With All My Heart ( 1959)
• I Never Knew What Love Could Do (1960 )
• California GI - 903 (1960)
• Special Love (1960 )
• Pledge of Love ( 1961)
• Pretty Little Angel Eyes (1961 )
• Under the Moon of Love ( 1961)
• Just Another Fool (1962 )
• Does He Mean That Much to You (1962 )
• Lonely Weekends (1963 )
• Pickin 'Up the Pieces of My Heart (1963 )
• Sweet Baby ( 1967)
• Get in My Bag (Curtis Lee & The K. C. P. ' s, 1967)