Catching Up With Curtis

“Creativity lives loudest in those who never stop envisioning what’s next.” I can’t remember who said that. I’m starting to think it was me. Because I believe it. So maybe it was. 

I met a 25-year-old Curtis Stigers in 1991 when Clive Davis selected a song I wrote with Gregg Sutton (Guess It Wasn’t Mine ), for his debut record. (Side note…it was the first of hundreds of songs I’d write with Gregg. He still comes up the canyon to visit. In fact he’s coming over tonight for dinner. That’s how co-writing was back then. You formed lasting relationships. Don’t get me started.) 

Anyway — As a teenager, Curtis played clarinet and saxophone in rock and blues bands in Boise. After graduating, he joined the New York City Jazz scene but Clive saw him as a blue-eyed-soul star (who’d simply play sax on his tracks). Every songwriter in NY (and LA) wanted “on” that record. If you were there, you might remember. 

Personally, I was thrilled to be included. It was the beginning of my career and being on that album gave me a lot of cred. especially since I was the only writer representing women in a sea of testosterone.  

Curtis went on to cover Nic Lowe’s “(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" on The Bodyguard Soundtrack (which sold something like 25million records — a songwriter’s wet dream.) Then there was another Arista album, a few jazz albums for Concord and a more countrified Let's Go Out Tonight. And oh there was an Emmy nominated TV theme song. Along the way Curtis worked with Elton, Eric, Prince, Bonnie, Rod, The Allman Brothers and Joe Cocker. The man’s been busy.  

But back to ‘91 — Gregg, Curtis and I wound up writing another track for that debut record: “You’re All That Matters To Me.” Curtis would say it was a nod to Barry and Cynthia’s “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling.” I’ve teased Curtis that it went all the way to #98 on the Hot 100. However, it was massive (as they say) across the pond in the UK. Belgium, Ireland and Canada as well. We’ll take it! 

Last week Curtis called (all right, he texted) to tell me he re-recorded a bunch of tracks from that debut for This Life, out this week. And…included on it is a new intimate jazzilicious version of “You’re All That Matters To Me.” He sent me a link to the video. To be honest, I was like, Uh oh. This is gonna be cheddar — (that’s code for cheesy in songwriter-ese.) But it’s anything but. The camera takes its time. No flashing lights. No twerking. No dancing. (On second thought, that actually may be Curtis dancing.) Just a vintage voice that has only gotten warmer over the years. 

I thought it might be a nice time to catch up with my friend and see how he’s managed to stay creatively connected over the years, especially the last 2, marry, have a child and tour non-stop.  

So here we go. Not quite a blog. Not quite a podcast. I call it a Blog-Cast. I give you Curtis…(and me!)  (Don’t forget to get his new Reckid! )

PS…for those of you who watched the Blog-Cast and are now privy to the adventures of “Every Time You Cry,” you should know that after it was released on Curtis’ 2nd album it went on to be recorded as a duet by Human Nature and John Farham in Australia and it went #1. Songs have a mind of their own.

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