About Me
Dr. Curtis R. Lewis, born October 31, 1942 in Doddsville, Mississippi. At the age of three his family moved to South Bend, Indiana. It was here at the age of three that he began playing the piano. Under the watchful eye of his mother his skills were enhanced. At the age of seven he appeared regularly on the Teen Talent Hour, a T.V. program in Chicago. Also, at the age of seven he began playing for the music ministry at the Liberty Street Church Of God In Christ where his mother was choir directress. For the next nine years his playing abilities were recognized throughout the city and he was called upon by various churches in the city for assistance in the music ministry.In 1956 Curtis family moved to Detroit, Michigan where he began playing for the Macedonia Church Of God In Christ, under the pastorate of Rev. Dennis Edwards, father of Dennis Edwards, Jr., former leader of the Temptations. (Dennis was the choir director). That same year he was appointed by Elder Phillip Brooks, who is now the bishop of Northeastern Michigan Church of God In Christ, and general board member of The Church Of God In Christ, to the office of state organist..While playing for the state choir, under the direction of the late Columbus Mann, he met Dr. Mattie Moss Clark. It was Dr. Clark who awaken his desire to know the purpose of the music ministry. Curtis often stood in as musician at Bailey Temple Church while Dr. Clark was on the road with the renown Southwest Michigan State Choir.James Cleveland, who was a resident of Detroit during this time, introduced Curtis to Ernestine Rundless & The Meditation Singers. He played for them for about a year and a half. When many of the national recording artists of that era were in Detroit, they often ask him to assist them in their concerts in the city. Singers such as, The Famous Davis Sisters, Prof. Charles Taylor, Rosie Wallace & The Imperial Gospel Singers, Brother Joe May, and many more. From 1960-61, Curtis was gospel organist for Motown Records, then known as Hitsville, U.S.A.Curtis moved from Detroit in 1962 to Aliquippa, Pa. to become minister of music for the First Church Of God In Christ. He has remained there for the last 44 years in that position. There he formed the 300 voice mass choir who received the most outstanding choir award at the International Unac Convention of the Church Of God In Christ held in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1964
During the past 44 years Curtis has been instructor in voice for Allegheny Community College, Pittsburgh, consultant for praise 7 worship at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa., done numerous musical workshops at churches, colleges, and conventions throughout the United States. In 1996 he received an honorary doctorate in sacred letters from Florida Southern College in Tallahassee, Florida. In the year 2001 he was appointed Dean Of Instruction for the music department of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc., Worldwide, and in the year 2005 he was elected to the International Gospel Music Hall Of Fame.Presently, he continues to travel across the country, and overseas, doing workshops in the music ministry, committed to the instruction of musicians and singers in knowing why they're in the music ministry.Curtis for the past 44 years has been married to the former Billye P. Wallace and theyre the parents of five siblings, Carsetta, Blake, Melva, Curtis E., and Douglas
