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Curtis Kinnard Hairston was born on the 10th October 1961 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A.
Curtis was 3 years old when he made his debut as a singer.
"My father had asked Curtis to get up in church and sing," said Shirley H. Holloway, Hairston’s mother. "He walked up there, reached up and grabbed that microphone like it belonged to him." She laughed. "From that point, all Curtis ever wanted to do was sing.
In Winston-Salem, Curtis became known locally for his rendition of We Are All God’s Children. Curtis sang the song at his grandfather’s church.
By the age of 13 he had made up his mind to sing professionally.His early public education was in the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County Schools. Curtis then furthered his education at Winston-Salem State University. He continued his musical training at Juliard School of Music in New York.
Basketball player, Earl Monroe, set up a record label and during a visit to Winston-Salem, Curtis got in touch. Both had attended the same school and the pair struck up a relationship that led, via a demo tape recording, to Curtis signing to Earl’s Pretty Pearl label. The debut single was I Want You (All Tonight) released in 1983. The follow-up I Want Your Lovin’ (Just A Little Bit) was released later that same year.
Curtis then signed to Atlantic, he collaborated with Nona Hendryx for his debut album. His first Atlantic single was Chillin’ Out in 1986.
Curtis also fronted an album of songs for BB&Q (Brooklyn Bronx & Queens Band) Something that he remained uncredited for. The group’s Kae Williams Jnr. (formally of the group Breakwater) collaborated with him on 1987’s debut album Curtis Hairston. That album contained the song The Morning After. Contibutions to the set came via the musical skills of Alyson Williams, Jocelyn Brown and Barbara Pennington. Luther Vandross had sung background vocals for Curtis Hairston during his career, additionally. Curtis recorded with the jazz group Ready For Reality on their 1990 Next Plateau release Ready For Reality. Greg Radford was the writer and producer of 90% of Curtis’ songs.
Throughout his life, Curtis was plagued with diabetes. He relocated from his base in New York back to Winston-Salem as his health weakened. There he received treatment for his illness, however, diabetes got the better of the singer and he suffered kidney failure as a result.
Just two weeks previous to his death, he stood before the congregation at his local church to sing Amazing Grace, the choir director at Winston-Salem State University was in attendace to hear Curtis sing. "It was beautiful," she said.
Curtis passed away on the 18th January 1996, at the N.C. Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was just 34 years old.
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