Curtis Lee
Encyclopedia
Curtis Lee is an American
singer of the early 1960s, who twice over was one of the beneficiaries of 1961 productions
by Phil Spector
. These were "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (U.S.
#7) and "Under the Moon of Love
" (U.S. #46).
career in 1959, and the following year was signed by Dunes Records after being invited to cut a demo
if he came to New York
. By the time he made it to New York in late 1960, he had started writing
song
s in partnership with a friend, Tommy Boyce
, who later became one-half of the Boyce and Hart
songwriting-producing-singing duo. Lee's first two singles
, "Special Love" and "Pledge of Love," failed to chart
, but for his third record, Dunes cut a Lee-Boyce original called "Pretty Little Angel Eyes." Spector's production included instrumental
support, and doo wop from an R&B
vocal group, The Halos
. The Halos appeared on "Pretty Little Angel Eyes", and would achieve further recognition by backing up Barry Mann
on "Who Put The Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)".
In the UK
, "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" was a minor hit record
, peaking at #47 in 1961.
Without Spector's guiding hand, Lee's hits dried up. He went into the construction industry with his father in 1969.
"Pretty Little Angel Eyes" has been covered
by Zombina and the Skeletones
and Showaddywaddy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer of the early 1960s, who twice over was one of the beneficiaries of 1961 productions
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...
by Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. These were "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
#7) and "Under the Moon of Love
Under the Moon of Love
"Under the Moon of Love" was a popular hit single by Showaddywaddy.Written by Tommy Boyce and Curtis Lee and produced by Phil Spector in 1961 for Curtis Lee, "Under the Moon of Love" was a minor hit in the U.S. reaching #46 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.Fifteen years later the song was...
" (U.S. #46).
Career
Lee began his recordingSound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
career in 1959, and the following year was signed by Dunes Records after being invited to cut a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
if he came to New York
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...
. By the time he made it to New York in late 1960, he had started writing
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s in partnership with a friend, Tommy Boyce
Boyce and Hart
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were a prolific songwriting duo, best known for the songs they wrote for The Monkees.-Early years:Hart's father was a church minister and he himself served in the Army after leaving high school, Upon discharge,...
, who later became one-half of the Boyce and Hart
Boyce and Hart
Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart were a prolific songwriting duo, best known for the songs they wrote for The Monkees.-Early years:Hart's father was a church minister and he himself served in the Army after leaving high school, Upon discharge,...
songwriting-producing-singing duo. Lee's first two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
, "Special Love" and "Pledge of Love," failed to chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
, but for his third record, Dunes cut a Lee-Boyce original called "Pretty Little Angel Eyes." Spector's production included instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
support, and doo wop from an R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
vocal group, The Halos
The Halos
The Halos were an American doo wop group from The Bronx.The group formed with members Al Cleveland, J.R. Bailey, Harold Johnson, and Arthur Crier . Phil Johnson replaced J.R. Bailey shortly after the recording of "Nag". .The group got its start as session musicians, backing up vocalists recorded by...
. The Halos appeared on "Pretty Little Angel Eyes", and would achieve further recognition by backing up Barry Mann
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
on "Who Put The Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)".
In the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" was a minor hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
, peaking at #47 in 1961.
Without Spector's guiding hand, Lee's hits dried up. He went into the construction industry with his father in 1969.
"Pretty Little Angel Eyes" has been covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Zombina and the Skeletones
Zombina and The Skeletones
Zombina and the Skeletones are a horror rock band from Liverpool, England, formed in 1998 around the nucleus of vocalist Zombina and songwriter Doc Horror. The majority of their tongue in cheek lyrical content deals with themes of horror and science fiction, yet their musical style is upbeat and...
and Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
.
External links
- Curtis Lee discography at the Rockin' Country Style website
- Soulful Kinda Music Entry
- [ Curtis Lee biography] at Allmusic