Post Description

Curtis Amy (October 11, 1929 - June 5, 2002) was an American West Coast jazz musician known for his work on tenor saxophone. He also explored many mediums, including soul jazz and hard bop.

Amy was born in Houston, Texas. He learned how to play clarinet before joining the Army, and during his time in service, picked up the tenor saxophone. After his discharge, he attended and graduated from Kentucky State College. He worked as an educator in Tennessee while playing in midwestern jazz clubs. In the mid-1950s he relocated to Los Angeles and signed with Pacific Jazz Records, often playing with organist Paul Bryant. In the mid-60s he spent three years as musical director of Ray Charles' orchestra, together with his wife, Merry Clayton and Steve Huffsteter.[1]

As well as leading his own bands and recording albums under his own name, Amy also did session work and played the solos on several recordings, including The Doors song "Touch Me", Carole King's Tapestry, and Lou Rawls' first albums, Black and Blue and Tobacco Road, coinciding with Dexter Gordon in the Onzy Matthews big band,[1] as well as working with Marvin Gaye, Tammy Terrell and Smokey Robinson.[1]

Up until his death he was married to singer and recording artist Merry Clayton



Curtis Amy - Mosaic Select 7 (1960-1963)


Disc 1
 1 Searchin'    
 2 Goin' Down, Catch Me a Woman    
 3 The Blues Message    
 4 Come Rain Or Come Shine    
 5 This is the Blues    
 6 Meetin' Here   
 7 Early In the Morning    
 8 If I Were a Bell    
 9 One More Hamhock Please
10 Angel Eyes    
11 Just Friends    


Disc 2 
 1 Gone into It    
 2 Annsome    
 3 Bobblin'    
 4 Groovin' Blue    
 5 Beautiful You    
 6 Way Down    
 7 Liberia    
 8 24 Hours Blues    
 9 Lisa     
10 A Soulful Bee, A Soulful Rose     
11 All My Life    
12 Bells and Horns    


Disc 3 
 1 Tippin' on Through    
 2 Funk in the Evening    
 3 For Ayers Only    
 4 In Your Own Sweet Way    
 5 Summertime    
 6 Set Call    
 7 Katanga     
 8 Lonely Woman    
 9 Native Land   
10 Amyable  
11 You Don't Know What Love Is    
12 A Shade of Brown    
13 Very Frank