Curtis Fuller facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Curtis Fuller
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Curtis DuBois Fuller |
| Born | December 15, 1932 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2021 (aged 88) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Years active | 1953–2021 |
| Labels | Blue Note, Prestige, Savoy, Impulse!, Epic, Atlantic |
Curtis DuBois Fuller (born December 15, 1932 – died May 8, 2021) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the trombone. Curtis Fuller was a key member of the famous jazz band called Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He also played on many important jazz recordings.
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Early Life of Curtis Fuller
Curtis Fuller was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 15, 1932. His father came from Jamaica and worked at a Ford car factory. Sadly, his father died before Curtis was born. His mother, who moved from Atlanta, passed away when he was only nine years old.
After his mother died, Curtis lived in an orphanage for a few years. He discovered his love for jazz music there. A nun took him to see a band play, and he was amazed by the trombone player, J. J. Johnson.
Curtis went to a public school in Detroit. Many other future jazz stars went to the same school. These included Paul Chambers, Donald Byrd, and Milt Jackson. When he was sixteen, Curtis chose to play the trombone. He had tried the violin first, and the saxophone was not available. He learned to play from J. J. Johnson and Elmer James.
Curtis Fuller's Music Career
In 1953, Curtis Fuller joined the U.S. Army. He served until 1955. During his time in the army, he played in a band with other musicians. These included Paul Chambers and the brothers Cannonball and Nat Adderley.
After leaving the army, Fuller joined a band led by Yusef Lateef. This band moved to New York City in 1957. In New York, Curtis Fuller recorded his first albums as a band leader.
A record producer named Alfred Lion heard Fuller play with Miles Davis. This led to Fuller recording several albums for Blue Note Records. He also played as a guest musician on many other albums. He worked with famous artists like Sonny Clark and John Coltrane. He also played with Bud Powell, Jimmy Smith, and Wayne Shorter.
Curtis Fuller was the first trombone player in a group called the Jazztet. This band was led by Art Farmer and Benny Golson. In 1961, he joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He stayed with this very popular band until 1965. Fuller also recorded albums for other record labels. Later, he toured with Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie. He also played again with Art Blakey and Benny Golson.
Later Life and Legacy
Curtis Fuller married Catherine Rose Driscoll in 1980. She passed away in 2010. Fuller recorded an album called The Story of Cathy & Me in 2011 to honor her.
In 1999, Curtis Fuller received an honorary music degree. This was from the Berklee College of Music. Eight years later, he was named an NEA Jazz Master. This is a very high honor for jazz musicians. He continued to perform and record music. He also taught at the New York State Summer School of the Arts.
Curtis Fuller died on May 8, 2021, at the age of 88. For many years, people thought he was born in 1934. He had added two years to his age when he was 17 to help him get work.
Images for kids
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A robot icon, often used for Kiddle.
See also
In Spanish: Curtis Fuller para niños
