# Curley Bridges

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**Curley Wilson Bridges** (February 7, 1934[1] – November 27, 2014)[2] was an American [electric blues](/source/Electric_blues), [rock and roll](/source/Rock_and_roll), and [rhythm and blues](/source/Rhythm_and_blues) singer, pianist and songwriter.

## Life and career

Bridges was born in [Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina](/source/Fuquay-Varina,_North_Carolina).[1] His father, Gleason Bridges who befriended [Fats Waller](/source/Fats_Waller), was a farmer and part-time musician, and his mother, Ophelia,[1] played the organ at their church.[3] Bridges saw [Joe Turner](/source/Joe_Turner_(jazz_pianist)) and [Louis Jordan](/source/Louis_Jordan) performing in nearby [Raleigh, North Carolina](/source/Raleigh,_North_Carolina), giving him early inspiration, and he sang at church. Following his [conscription](/source/Conscription) into the [U.S. Army](/source/United_States_Army) at the age of 19, Bridges heard [Albert Ammons](/source/Albert_Ammons), [Pete Johnson](/source/Pete_Johnson_(musician)) and [Piano Red](/source/Piano_Red) playing the piano and was determined to master the instrument.[3] After leaving the army on medical grounds, Bridges moved back to Washington, D.C., his home since childhood,[1] and worked as a cook.[3]

Bridges often lingered backstage at the [Howard Theatre](/source/Howard_Theatre), where he met and befriended [Billie Holiday](/source/Billie_Holiday).[3] In 1953, he and the trumpet player [Frank Motley, Jr.](/source/Frank_Motley,_Jr.), formed the Motley Crew. Bridges performed with this group until 1966; he was the lead vocalist and played the piano and, on occasion, the trombone or drums.[3] In 1954, they recorded an upbeat version of the song "[Hound Dog](/source/Hound_Dog_(song))", which was renamed "New Hound Dog" and issued by Big Town Records, billed as by Frank "Dual Trumpeter" Motley & His Crew (with vocal by Curley Bridges) (Big Town 116).[4] The track was arranged by Bridges.[5] Several singles followed, including "A Prayer of Love" (1961),[6] "Are You Satisfied" (1964),[7] "Crying All Alone," "[Honey Hush](/source/Honey_Hush)," "[Tennessee Waltz](/source/Tennessee_Waltz)," "Everybody Wants a Flattop," "Any Other Way," and "Rock and Roll Gotta Beat," which were issued on various American and Canadian record labels.[3][8] The outfit played across North America over the years, including taking part in a [United Service Organizations](/source/United_Service_Organizations) (USO Show) in 1959. In 1961, Bridges received a royalty check for $62.20, which he claimed to be the only royalty payment he received until the turn of the millennium.[3] The following year Bridges and Motley contributed to [Jerry Lee Lewis](/source/Jerry_Lee_Lewis)'s album *Rockin' with Jerry Lee Lewis*.[9]

By 1966, the band had relocated to [Toronto](/source/Toronto). Bridges left the group later that year. He recruited King Herbert and Frank Pelly from his former band, and they performed as the Rounders in [Northern Ontario](/source/Northern_Ontario).[3]

In 1968, Bridges played the electric organ on the album *Jackie Shane Live!* Bridges then fronted another band, Bridge Crossing, which collaborated with Frank Motley to record *Chip Dip* (1972).[3] He continued to perform before and after moving to [Barrie](/source/Barrie), [Central Ontario](/source/Central_Ontario), in 1981.[3][10] He and other local musicians spent time as the house band at the Ruanne's nightclub in Barrie, led by [Gerry Markman](/source/Gerry_Markman), and Bridges performed as a solo act and with the Fig Leaf Jazz Band.[10]

He appeared in 1997 at Toronto's Harbourfront Soul 'n' Blues Festival.[3][8] In 1999, Bridges recorded his first solo album for the [Electro-Fi Records](/source/Electro-Fi_Records) label, *Keys to the Blues*.[10] It contained his cover versions of songs such as "[Honey Hush](/source/Honey_Hush)", "[Reconsider Baby](/source/Reconsider_Baby)", "[I'm Tore Down](/source/I'm_Tore_Down)", "[Rock Me Baby](/source/Rock_Me_Baby_(song))", "[Thank You Pretty Baby](/source/Thank_You_Pretty_Baby)", "[Every Day I Have the Blues](/source/Every_Day_I_Have_the_Blues)" and "[Since I Met You Baby](/source/Since_I_Met_You_Baby_(song))".[11][12] His second album, *Mr. Rock N Soul*, was released in October 2001, and included Bridges version of [Fats Domino](/source/Fats_Domino)'s "[My Girl Josephine](/source/My_Girl_Josephine)".[13] [Pat Carey](/source/Pat_Carey_(musician)) played saxophone on the album.[14] *Curley Bridges Live at the Silver Dollar Room* was issued in 2009 to celebrate his 75th birthday.[15]

In August 2005, Bridges performed at the [Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival](/source/Edmonton's_Labatt_Blues_Festival).

In 2011, he won the Excellence in the Arts Award at the Barrie Arts Awards.[10][16] Bridges performed to a sell-out crowd in March 2014, to celebrate his 80th birthday.[15]

Bridges died in the Hospice Simcoe in Barrie, from cancer on November 27, 2014, aged 80.[2][10] His remains were donated to the [University of Toronto](/source/University_of_Toronto) for medical research.[10]

## Solo discography

### Albums

Year Title Record label 1999 Keys to the Blues Electro-Fi Records 2001 Mr. Rock N Soul Electro-Fi Records 2009 Curley Bridges Live at the Silver Dollar Room Electro-Fi Records 2010 Electro-Fi Records Presents Blues Piano-Rama Electro-Fi Records

[17]

## References

1. Eagle, Bob L. & Le Blanc, Eric S. (2013). *Blues: A Regional Experience*. Santa Barbara, California: [Praeger](/source/Greenwood_Publishing_Group). p. 125. ISBN 978-0-31334423-7.

1. ["Bluesman Used His Incredible Talent to Inspire"](http://www.simcoe.com/community-story/5290181-bluesman-used-his-incredible-talent-to-inspire/). Simcoe.com. 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Curley Bridges Bio"](http://www.electrofi.com/curleybio.htm). *Electrofi.com*. 1934-02-07. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. Birnbaum, Larry (2012). *Before Elvis: The Prehistory of Rock 'n' Roll*. [Rowman & Littlefield](/source/Rowman_%26_Littlefield). p. 234. ISBN 978-0810886285.

1. ["Curley Bridges and the Murrays 45th Anniversary at Savannah Lodge"](http://www.ourstoriesinnisfil.ca/islandora/object/ourstories%3A31293). Ourstoriesinnisfil.ca. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. Gribin, Anthony & Schiff, Matthew (September 2014). [*The Top 1000 Doo-Wop Songs: Collector's Edition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=izwKCgAAQBAJ&dq=%22CURLEY+BRIDGES%22&pg=PA82). Lulu.com. p. 82. ISBN 9780982737651. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["The Motley Crew, 'Are You Satisfied?' (vinyl)"](http://www.discogs.com/Motley-Crew-Are-You-Satisfied/release/6380824). Discogs.com. 1964. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Curley Bridges"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123805/http://torontobluessociety.com/1997/06/curley-bridges/). Torontobluessociety.com. Archived from [the original](http://torontobluessociety.com/1997/06/curley-bridges/) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Jerry Lee Lewis Featuring Frank Motley and Curley Bridges, *Rockin' with Jerry Lee Lewis* (vinyl, LP)"](http://www.discogs.com/Jerry-Lee-Lewis-Featuring-Frank-Motley-And-Curley-Bridges-Rockin-With-Jerry-Lee-Lewis/release/3395643). Discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Local bluesman Curley Bridges has died : The Barrie Examiner"](http://www.newslocker.com/en-ca/region/barrie/local-bluesman-curley-bridges-has-died-submitted-the-barrie-examiner/view/). *NewsLocker.com*. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Curley Bridges"](http://www.whosampled.com/Curley-Bridges/). *WhoSampled.com*. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Keys to the Blues – Curley Bridges | Songs, Reviews, Credits"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/keys-to-the-blues-mw0000763032). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Mr. Rock N Soul – Curley Bridges | Songs, Reviews, Credits"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/mr-rock-n-soul-mw0000014711). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Mr. Rock N Soul – Curley Bridges | Credits"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/mr-rock-n-soul-mw0000014711/credits). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Living Blues"](http://digital.livingblues.com/publication/?i=244086&p=77). *Digital.livingblues.com*. Vol. 235. pp. 75/6. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Curley Bridges"](https://www.facebook.com/Curley-Bridges-207292560356/). Facebook. Retrieved 2015-12-29.

1. ["Curley Bridges | Album Discography"](http://www.allmusic.com/artist/curley-bridges-mn0000137774/discography). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved 2015-12-29.

## External links

- [2009 interview with Bridges](https://nowtoronto.com/music/q-and-a-curley-bridges/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Curley Bridges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curley_Bridges) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curley_Bridges?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.