Curtis Knight
Encyclopedia
Curtis Knight was an American music artist and band
leader who is known for his connection to Jimi Hendrix
.
Knight was an artist in the 1960s Harlem
music scene, usually fronting his own band "The Squires". This band gig
ged in clubs in New York City
, and other surrounding areas. It was through Knight that Hendrix got involved with Ed Chalpin, a record producer
who signed the future superstar to a contract which Hendrix soon forgot about and left for England
to form "The Jimi Hendrix Experience
".
Both Knight and Chalpin would later claim that they were trying to make Hendrix a "star", which has some validity as his first label credit was on the first single he recorded with Knight as "arranger", and the second single (both sides instrumentals) had him as co-composer with he producer Jerry Simon (a common finacila ploy at the time to recompense the producer). They weren't doing a very good job though as that's as far as it got, before Chas Chandler stepped in. Chalpin had him sign a contract that gave Hendrix 1% of any royalties
that his recordings earned. Which was actually very favourable in comparison to the percentage the individual members of the Beatles and the Who were getting at that time, apart from the fact that neither of the two records sold much. The sum of "one dollar" in the contract was merely a formalised legality common to most artist contracts at that time, misconstrued by many who appear to think Hendrix was "bought" for a dollar. Meanwhile, Chas Chandler
, who when tipped off by Rolling Stone Keith Richards girlfriend, Linda Keith,(who had recognised his genius and was trying to find someone to further his career), took along his then manager (soon to be business partner/co-manager) Mike Jeffery, and "discovered" Hendrix in Greenwich Village
while he was fronting his first band 'The Blue Flame'(often later referred to as 'The Blue Flames' which is influenced by Jimi's alias at that time 'Jimmy James', Junior Parker's Blue Flames and a popular band of '60's London 'Georgie Fame's Blue Flames'. This has subsequently become the legend 'Jimmy James and the Blue Flames'). It was only after Chalpin read music trade papers that he realized that Hendrix had made it successfully across the Atlantic in the "Psychedelic
" and "Flower Power" period, and began to pursue legal action against Hendrix, his management and record companies, with Knight as his main witness.
During the legal battles, Chalpin released some of his Hendrix records:
Some of these tracks were actually recorded during a "jam session" that occurred after Hendrix gave Knight a call and then visited him in 1967 between the Monterey Pop Festival
and the Monkees
tour that the Experience participated in. All songs from this session were released with pictures of Hendrix that were post-Squires, and stated that Knight played a big part in Hendrix's style.
These tracks were used on a CD/LP release entitled The Summer of Love Sessions. :.
During the 1970s, after Hendrix's demise, Knight moved to London, England where he formed the group "Curtis Knight, Zeus", and toured throughout Europe
, relying on his "Hendrix" connection for many years. Among the musicians enlisted was "Fast" Eddie Clarke
who went on to fame as part of the line up which made Motörhead famous on such records as "Bomber
" and "Ace of Spades
" during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Knight wrote the book Jimi: An Intimate Biography of Jimi Hendrix, published in 1974 by Praegar Publishers, New York. The book includes A Jimi Hendrix Discography, compiled by John McKellar.
Knight was also a competitive table tennis player who played in some local tournaments while living in New York.
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
leader who is known for his connection to Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
Knight was an artist in the 1960s Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
music scene, usually fronting his own band "The Squires". This band gig
Gig (musical performance)
Gig is slang for a musical engagement in which musicians are hired. Originally coined in the 1920s by jazz musicians, the term, short for the word "engagement", now refers to any aspect of performing such as assisting with performance and attending musical performance...
ged in clubs in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and other surrounding areas. It was through Knight that Hendrix got involved with Ed Chalpin, a record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who signed the future superstar to a contract which Hendrix soon forgot about and left for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to form "The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
".
Both Knight and Chalpin would later claim that they were trying to make Hendrix a "star", which has some validity as his first label credit was on the first single he recorded with Knight as "arranger", and the second single (both sides instrumentals) had him as co-composer with he producer Jerry Simon (a common finacila ploy at the time to recompense the producer). They weren't doing a very good job though as that's as far as it got, before Chas Chandler stepped in. Chalpin had him sign a contract that gave Hendrix 1% of any royalties
Royalties
Royalties are usage-based payments made by one party to another for the right to ongoing use of an asset, sometimes an intellectual property...
that his recordings earned. Which was actually very favourable in comparison to the percentage the individual members of the Beatles and the Who were getting at that time, apart from the fact that neither of the two records sold much. The sum of "one dollar" in the contract was merely a formalised legality common to most artist contracts at that time, misconstrued by many who appear to think Hendrix was "bought" for a dollar. Meanwhile, Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
, who when tipped off by Rolling Stone Keith Richards girlfriend, Linda Keith,(who had recognised his genius and was trying to find someone to further his career), took along his then manager (soon to be business partner/co-manager) Mike Jeffery, and "discovered" Hendrix in Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
while he was fronting his first band 'The Blue Flame'(often later referred to as 'The Blue Flames' which is influenced by Jimi's alias at that time 'Jimmy James', Junior Parker's Blue Flames and a popular band of '60's London 'Georgie Fame's Blue Flames'. This has subsequently become the legend 'Jimmy James and the Blue Flames'). It was only after Chalpin read music trade papers that he realized that Hendrix had made it successfully across the Atlantic in the "Psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
" and "Flower Power" period, and began to pursue legal action against Hendrix, his management and record companies, with Knight as his main witness.
During the legal battles, Chalpin released some of his Hendrix records:
|
|
Some of these tracks were actually recorded during a "jam session" that occurred after Hendrix gave Knight a call and then visited him in 1967 between the Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
and the Monkees
The Monkees
The Monkees are an American pop rock group. Assembled in Los Angeles in 1966 by Robert "Bob" Rafelson and Bert Schneider for the American television series The Monkees, which aired from 1966 to 1968, the musical acting quartet was composed of Americans Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork,...
tour that the Experience participated in. All songs from this session were released with pictures of Hendrix that were post-Squires, and stated that Knight played a big part in Hendrix's style.
These tracks were used on a CD/LP release entitled The Summer of Love Sessions. :.
During the 1970s, after Hendrix's demise, Knight moved to London, England where he formed the group "Curtis Knight, Zeus", and toured throughout Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, relying on his "Hendrix" connection for many years. Among the musicians enlisted was "Fast" Eddie Clarke
Eddie Clarke
Edward Allan Clarke better known as "Fast" Eddie Clarke, is a guitarist who was a member of British heavy metal bands Fastway and Motörhead.-Early days:...
who went on to fame as part of the line up which made Motörhead famous on such records as "Bomber
Bomber (album)
Bomber is the third studio album by the British heavy metal band Motörhead. It was recorded in 1979, the same year as Overkill. The album reached number 12 on the UK charts and brought some of Motörhead's most popular songs, like "Bomber", "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Stone Dead...
" and "Ace of Spades
Ace of Spades (album)
Ace of Spades is the fourth album by the British band Motörhead. Released on 8 November 1980, it peaked at #4 on the UK album charts and reached Gold status by March 1981...
" during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Knight wrote the book Jimi: An Intimate Biography of Jimi Hendrix, published in 1974 by Praegar Publishers, New York. The book includes A Jimi Hendrix Discography, compiled by John McKellar.
Knight was also a competitive table tennis player who played in some local tournaments while living in New York.