When most young men were playing with toy soldiers and reading comic books, Curtis was captivated by a sound and feeling that would become a driving factor in his life. The words of the famous “Little Drummer Boy” written by Katherine K. Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone seem to capture the essence of who Curtis is, “Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, On my drum.”
Music came to him early in life when he began playing at the age of eight. He became involved with the Mighty Liberators Drum & Bugle Corps, which gave him fundamental training in percussion. Curtis went on to study formally at the Hochstein music school in Rochester, NY, where he studied drums and piano. Curtis soon earned a reputation as one of the hottest young drummers in the area and quickly caught the ear of Glen Cummings and Terrance Bruce, well known jazz musicians who played at a local jam session frequented by some of the area’s top musicians. Glen Cummings gave Curtis his first big break and invited him to start a professional jazz group. Curtis and his dream was on the way.
Curtis developed his writing abilities early on in his young life and and became a prolific songwriter for Cabo Frio. The jazz group Cabo Frio, started playing big concerts and opening for national jazz acts for the first few years. During that time, the group was introduced to Ricky Schulz, head of Zebra Records, who later signed Cabo Frio to MCA records. The band started touring and reached #11 on the Billboard Jazz Charts with their recording Right on the Money. Curtis owned and operated National distributed Record Label, Kezia Records in which he released four CD projects.
Individually, Curtis has performed on the Arsenio Hall Show and co-arranged and performed the new music theme for the sitcom, The New Leave It To Beaver Show on the Fox network. Curtis has been a featured artist with Chuck Mangoine, the late Cab Calloway and Steve Gadd on The Landmarks In Music compilation CD of New York State. Curtis has preformed as a support act for Kenny G, Spyro Gyra, Joe Sample, Yellow Jackets, Jeff Lorber, Pieces of A Dream, Dave Valentin, Paquito D' Rivera, Cedric Dent of Take 6, Luther Barnes, Phoebe Snow, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Jazz Crusaders, Lonnie Mack, Fattbuger, Larry Coryell and the late Lou Rawls. Curtis received a proclamation from the Mayor of Rochester New York as a Landmark In Music.
Now after a six year hiatus from the music scene, Curtis is recording a new CD with Cabo Frio, entitled, Dreamin! prospects for 2015 look great for Curtis-- the new jazz CD should be released in May 2015, and touring will follow as fans request his music on stations all over the United States and abroad.
“For me, music is a way to express all of the feelings of daily life and the end of it all-- music heals your soul.”
-Curtis Kendrick, Writer/Recording Artist
Music came to him early in life when he began playing at the age of eight. He became involved with the Mighty Liberators Drum & Bugle Corps, which gave him fundamental training in percussion. Curtis went on to study formally at the Hochstein music school in Rochester, NY, where he studied drums and piano. Curtis soon earned a reputation as one of the hottest young drummers in the area and quickly caught the ear of Glen Cummings and Terrance Bruce, well known jazz musicians who played at a local jam session frequented by some of the area’s top musicians. Glen Cummings gave Curtis his first big break and invited him to start a professional jazz group. Curtis and his dream was on the way.
Curtis developed his writing abilities early on in his young life and and became a prolific songwriter for Cabo Frio. The jazz group Cabo Frio, started playing big concerts and opening for national jazz acts for the first few years. During that time, the group was introduced to Ricky Schulz, head of Zebra Records, who later signed Cabo Frio to MCA records. The band started touring and reached #11 on the Billboard Jazz Charts with their recording Right on the Money. Curtis owned and operated National distributed Record Label, Kezia Records in which he released four CD projects.
Individually, Curtis has performed on the Arsenio Hall Show and co-arranged and performed the new music theme for the sitcom, The New Leave It To Beaver Show on the Fox network. Curtis has been a featured artist with Chuck Mangoine, the late Cab Calloway and Steve Gadd on The Landmarks In Music compilation CD of New York State. Curtis has preformed as a support act for Kenny G, Spyro Gyra, Joe Sample, Yellow Jackets, Jeff Lorber, Pieces of A Dream, Dave Valentin, Paquito D' Rivera, Cedric Dent of Take 6, Luther Barnes, Phoebe Snow, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Jazz Crusaders, Lonnie Mack, Fattbuger, Larry Coryell and the late Lou Rawls. Curtis received a proclamation from the Mayor of Rochester New York as a Landmark In Music.
Now after a six year hiatus from the music scene, Curtis is recording a new CD with Cabo Frio, entitled, Dreamin! prospects for 2015 look great for Curtis-- the new jazz CD should be released in May 2015, and touring will follow as fans request his music on stations all over the United States and abroad.
“For me, music is a way to express all of the feelings of daily life and the end of it all-- music heals your soul.”
-Curtis Kendrick, Writer/Recording Artist
