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Chris Curtis (musician)

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This article is about 1960s music artist. For the American mixed martial artist, see Chris Curtis (fighter). For the British MP, see Chris Curtis (politician).

Chris Curtis
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Crummey
Born(1941-08-26)26 August 1941
Oldham, Lancashire, England
Died28 February 2005(2005-02-28) (aged 63)
Liverpool, England
OccupationMusician
Instruments
  • Drums
  • vocals
Years active1960s–1970s
Formerly ofThe Searchers, Roundabout

Chris Curtis (born Christopher Crummey;[1][2][3] 26 August 1941 – 28 February 2005) was an English musician. He was best known for being with the 1960s beat band The Searchers. He originated the concept behind Deep Purple and formed the band in its original incarnation of 'Roundabout'.[3]

Born in Oldham, Lancashire on 26 August 1941,[2] Christopher Crummey's family moved to Liverpool in 1945.[4] Curtis attended St Mary's College.[2][4] He was the drummer for The Searchers from 1960 to April 1966. After leaving the Searchers, Curtis recorded one solo song, a cover version of the Walker Brothers's "(Baby) You Don't Have to Tell Me".[5] In 1967, Curtis contacted Tony Edwards about a new group he was putting together, to be called Roundabout. Curtis' vision was a "supergroup" where the band members would leave and be replaced all the time, like a musical roundabout.[6] The first person hired was Curtis' flatmate, Jon Lord.[7] Curtis soon left the project and he moved back to Liverpool.[7]

Later on in life, Curtis, who never worked in music professionally again after being fired from Roundabout, worked as a civil servant, retiring early due to poor health.[8] Just before his death, he started performing again, appearing weekly with live musicians for the Merseycats charity at the Marconi club in Huyton.[2][9] After not answering phone calls for a few days, his sister discovered him dead in his flat in Aintree on 28 February 2005 at the age of 63.[3][2][10] He had many illnesses, including Diabetes.[11] His sister recalled phoning him the night before his death, Curtis had the flu but refused to see the doctors about it.[10] Many of his online obituaries incorrectly credit Curtis to be the brainchild behind "Let's Go To San Francisco" by The Flower Pot Men, when it was really a creation by John Carter.[2][3][8][12][13]

Discography

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Main article: The Searchers discography

Further reading

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References

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  1. ^ [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/chris-curtis-526979.html|The Independent Obituary] Note: This obituary incorrectly spells his surname, "Crummey", as "Crummy".
  2. ^ a b c d e f Sweeting, Adam (3 March 2005). "Chris Curtis". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d "The Searchers drummer Curtis dies". 1 March 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Chris Curtis". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  5. ^ "Unearthed Merseybeat Vol. 3".
  6. ^ Thompson, Dave (20 August 2004). Smoke on the Water: The Deep Purple Story. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-55022-618-8.
  7. ^ a b "On The Roundabout With Deep Purple". www.deep-purple.net. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  8. ^ a b Press, The Associated (2 March 2005). "Chris Curtis, 63, Drummer for the Searchers, Is Dead". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  9. ^ Brandle, Lars (2 March 2005). "Searchers Drummer Chris Curtis Dies". Billboard. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  10. ^ a b Echo, Liverpool (10 March 2005). "Music world mourns loss of original Searcher, Chris". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  11. ^ Echo, Liverpool (10 March 2005). "Music world mourns loss of original Searcher, Chris". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Lives in Brief". www.thetimes.com. 2 March 2005. Retrieved 9 February 2025.
  13. ^ News, Manchester Evening (30 June 2005). "Searchers drummer dies aged 63". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 9 February 2025. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
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