Curtis Hairston

Born in 1962 in Winston Salem, North Carolina, Curtis Hairston was the offspring of an early Platters member and began singing on a semi-professional basis at age thirteen. Pretty Pearl, the label founded by former New York Knickerbockers star Earl ‘Earl The Pearl’ Monroe, became his first recording home when he signed in 1981. His relocation to New York followed the 1982 release of debut single ‘Summertime’. Follow-up ‘I Want You (All Tonight)’ scored major UK club play yet fell just short of the Top 40 in 1983. The dance classic ‘I Want Your Lovin’ (Just a Little Bit)’ proved his biggest success, entering the UK Top 20 in 1985 while also marking one of three minor US R&B chart entries. Better known in Britain than at home, the soulful vocalist moved to Atlantic Records in 1986 and scored his final UK hit that year with ‘Chillin’ Out’. He also contributed lead vocals to BB&Q, including their UK Top 40 hit ‘Genie’, and supplied backing vocals for Change.