Curtis Files was in the audience at Dream Mecca Studio at the Daniel Day Gallery on Friday night. I was there to hear 2Blu & The Lucky Stiffs, and they were making some beautiful music for the full house at the stylish, offbeat venue on 6th Avenue South in Birmingham.
Curtis, an old-time blues singer -- 81 years old, I'm told -- was introduced as the upcoming act for next Friday night. Later, when the band invited guests to sit in, Curtis took the floor. "I'm ready," he said, "At least I've got to hope I'm ready."
The band laid down a rhythm, but Curtis said, "I'm not feeling it." He turned to the band, raised
his hand, and they became his. "Give me a twelve-bar blues in A." The drummer laid it down and the bass and guitar started the slow, familiar progression that settles deeper in your soul every time it comes around. "Put some B.B. King in it," Curtis directed, and the guitarist did. We were all feeling it.Curtis started to sing:
"I have had my fun if I never get well no more.
I have had my fun if I never get well no more.
All of my health is failing;
Lord, I'm going down slow,
I'm going down slow."
His voice was a little tight -- he hadn't had time to warm up -- but it was strong and melodic. He sang another verse:
"Please write my mother and tell her the shape I'm in.
Please write my mother and tell her the shape I'm in.
Tell her to pray for me,
Forgive me for my sin,
For all of my sin."
Curtis turned and handed it off to George Dudley, the guitarist, who took it up a notch. It was good. Curtis was leading and the room followed. His groove was immediate and visceral, and we all went there with him. He was in it with all his heart. Then his heart gave out.
We watched as he bent forward from the waist, then continued forward and down, grasping the speaker as he reached the floor. He rolled onto his back. He was still.
The audience sat aghast for a frozen moment.
911 was called. A pillow was placed under his head. A small group gathered around him, holding his hands and speaking to him. People prayed. A man and a young woman stepped up and performed CPR. We heard a ragged breath. Hope filled the room.
The paramedics arrived and did their job. Their poker faces didn't tell us anything. They took Curtis to the hospital.
Stunned and subdued, we talked quietly for some time. Then the band took the stage again and began to play. The music was good. It was passionate and powerful. Bruce Andrews' harmonica told the story. The room was a single-minded congregation.
The phone call came: Curtis didn't make it.
The music stopped. A woman sobbed. People gathered in twos and threes to comfort one another. We drifted out into the night, burdened and, somehow, blessed by what we had witnessed.
how did he do at the hospital???
ReplyDeleteWell put, Deborah. I'm the guitarist you speak of in the article. This was a moment none of us will ever forget - a sublime and moving point in time..... The song that Curtis was singing was "Going Down Slow" by St. Louis Jimmy. here are the lyrics Curtis sang as his last song on this plane...
ReplyDeleteI have had my fun if I never get well no more.
I have had my fun if I never get well no more.
All of my health is failing;
Lord, I'm going down slow,
I'm going down slow.
Please write my mother and tell her the shape I'm in.
Please write my mother and tell her the shape I'm in.
Tell her to pray for me,
Forgive me for my sin,
For all of my sin.
it was right after that last line of the second verse that Curtis said farewell. What a moment.
there are more lyrics to the song, but those sufficed for the time.
peace.
George Dudley
guitar
2Blu and The Lucky Stiffs
Wow... A loss for many I'm sure...You have to wonder if he knew it was close?
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a dramatic night. Curtis was a man I looked up to and admired. He lit up a room with his presence and was not easy to ignore. He had a great sense of humor and was not afraid to "go back and forth" with me a bit; as a matter of fact he made a crack about not playing any "Country Boy Eddie Stuff" just minutes before he died...we all laughed hard at the comment. Now that I have had time to think about it...I am honored to have been playing the last gig with Curtis when he was called home. Curtis strolled in the room with style that night...he left the same way/RIP bluesman.
ReplyDelete