Nick Curran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick Curran
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Curran with the Fabulous Thunderbirds, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Nicholas Michael Curran |
| Also known as | NickyKay |
| Born | September 30, 1977 Biddeford, Maine, United States |
| Died | October 6, 2012 (aged 35) |
| Genres | Texas blues Jump blues/R&B Rock & roll Rockabilly revival Swing revival Punk rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocalist, guitar, drums |
Nick Curran (born September 30, 1977 – died October 6, 2012) was an amazing American musician. He was a singer and played guitar, known for his blues and rock and roll music. People often compared his style to famous artists like Little Richard and bands such as The Ramones.
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Nick's Early Life and Music Journey
Nick Curran was born in Biddeford, Maine. He started playing drums when he was only three years old! He had a natural talent for keeping time with music. Every day, he would turn on the radio and play along to the songs.
His dad, Michael, taught Nick how to play the guitar. If Nick heard a cool guitar sound, he would ask his dad to show him how to play it. A few hours later, Nick would have learned and practiced it. When he was young, someone asked him why he wanted to play music so much. He simply said, "I got the feelin'." He never took formal guitar lessons.
When Nick was 15, he played guitar and harmonica in his father's band, Mike Curran and the Tremors. At 17, he played drums with his dad again in a band called The Upsetters. In the same year, he started his own rockabilly band called Nick Danger and the Sideburners. They often played at clubs in Portland, Maine. When he was 18, he tried out for a famous musician named James Montgomery.
Nick's Music Career
Nick Curran started his professional music career when he was 19. He left Maine to tour with Ronnie Dawson, who was known as "The Blonde Bomber." Ronnie Dawson played rockabilly music, but he also taught Nick not to stick to just one type of music.
After that, Nick toured with Kim Lenz, another rockabilly artist from Texas. He moved to Dallas and joined her band, the Jaguars. He played on her album, The One And Only, and stayed with the Jaguars for two years. He also played on her next CD, It's All True.
In 1999, Nick released his first solo album, Fixin' Your Head. For this album, and all his future ones, Nick used old recording equipment. He wanted his music to sound like the classic records from the 1950s. To play his new songs live, he formed a band called Nick Curran & the Nitelifes.
From 2004 to 2007, Nick played with The Fabulous Thunderbirds. He appeared on their 2005 album, Painted On. Later, in 2008, Nick formed a band called The Attitudes. In this band, Nick sang and played drums while standing up! He said this band was like when you and your friend want to start a band in high school but don't have a bass player. They played songs by bands like The Misfits and The Ramones, as well as blues legends like Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters.
Nick also appeared in the TV show True Blood in 2008. He performed four songs in one scene of the show. After a solo show in 2008, Nick formed another rock and roll band called The Lowlifes. Their album, Reform School Girl, became very popular and had three songs named "Coolest Song in the World" by Little Steven's Underground Garage radio show.
Nick's Passing
In 2009, Nick Curran was diagnosed with oral cancer. In June 2010, doctors thought he was free of cancer. However, in April 2011, the cancer returned, and he received more treatment. Nick Curran sadly passed away from the disease on October 6, 2012, when he was 35 years old.
Nick Curran's Music Albums
- 2000 – Fixin' Your Head
- 2001 – Nitelife Boogie
- 2003 – Doctor Velvet
- 2004 – Player!
- 2010 – Reform School Girl
All of Nick's albums received great reviews from Allmusic, a popular music website.
