Curtis Lee

Curtis Lee would obviously fit into the oft used category of a “One Hit Wonder” I suppose.  His 1961 hit “Pretty Little Angel Eyes” hit the top ten and seemed to promise more great tunes to follow.

Curtis Lee was born on January 8th, 1939 in Yuma, Arizona. Lee cut a couple of records on some very small labels – his first in the summer of 1959 on Warrior Records and another that same year on the Hot label.  Hot was the same label which would released Larry Hall’s “Sandy” before it got picked up by Strand Records.

Lee Displaying His Big Hit!

Though growing up in the west, he would journey to far-off New York City to record his first tunes and to sign a contract with Dunes Records.  Lee would benefit from the production talents of Phil Spector on his initial recordings but that partnership was short lived.

Lee would cut eight singles for Dunes from 1962 into 1964.  But only his two Hot 100 hits would have the ‘Spector Touch’.

Song Writing Partner – Tommy Boyce

Lee would meet singer-songwriter Tommy Boyce and the two would work together for a time composing songs including the big one, “Pretty Little Angel Eyes”.  That bouncy song greatly benefitted from the excellent background vocals provided by the doo-wop group the Halos out of Cleveland, Ohio – The group at the time included Harold Johnson, Al Cleveland, Arthur Crier and Phil Johnson.

The Halos – Backup for “Pretty Little Angel Eyes”

When Lee’s success came to an end in 1969, he would depart the music world to join the working world, becoming part of his father’s business in home construction.

Curtis Lee passed away in his birth town of Yuma, Arizona on January 8th, 2015 losing a battle with cancer.  He was 75 years old.

Curtis Lee Discography

Hot 7 – Gotta Have You b/w I Never Knew What Love Could Do – 1959

Warrior 1555 – With All My Heart (I Love You) b/w Pure Love – June, 1959

Dunes 2001 – Special Love b/w D – In Love – 1960

Dunes 2003 – Pledge Of Love – Number 110 Bubbling Under b/w Then I’ll Know – February, 1961

Dunes 2007 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – Number 7 Hot 100 b/w Gee How I Wish You Were Here – July, 1961

Tim Reynolds – Australia – RCA 101141 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – August, 1961

Dunes 2008 – Under The Moon Of Love – Number 46 Hot 100 b/w Beverly Jean – October, 1961

Dunes 2012 – Just Another Fool – Number 110 Bubbling Under b/w A Night At Daddy Gee’s – April, 1962

Dunes 2015 – Does He Mean That Much To You b/w The Wobble – July, 1962

Dunes 2020 – Lonely Weekends b/w Better Him Than Me – December, 1962

Dunes 2021 – Pickin’ Up The Pieces Of My Heart b/w Mr. Mistaker – January, 1963

Chet Avery – Germany – Philips 332 600 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – 1963

Dunes 801 – California GL-903 b/w Then I’ll Know – August, 1964

The Blue Beats UK – Leedon 1149 – Under the Moon of Love – October, 1965

The Lost Generation – Brunswick 55492 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – February, 1973

Big Wheelie – Amherst – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – 1975

Showdaddy – Arista 222 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – October, 1978

Street Corner Serenade – Starlight 70 – Pretty Little Angel Eyes – 1989