From the Winston-Salem Journal, Obituaries, Friday, January 19, 1996, Page B4
Copyright © 1996 Piedmont Publishing Co., Inc.
HAIRSTON
Mr. Curtis Kinnard Hairston, of 818 Woodcote St., was born on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 1961 to the late Clarence L. Hairston Sr. and Shirley Crutchfield Hairston Holloway in Winston-Salem. His early public education was in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and he furthered his education at Winston-Salem State University. He furthered his musical training at Juliard School of Music in New York. While attending WSSU his freshman year, he won the "Mr. Ram" contest. Curtis was a professional vocalist, recording for Pretty Pearl Productions, Atlantic Records, and the BB and Q Label. He returned home from New York after his health began to deteriorate. Curtis accepted Christ at the age of 6 and remained active even through his poor health. He started singing in First Baptist Church at the age of 3 and was actively involved in the Tot's Choir, Children's Choir and was an active member of the Spiritual Choir. Mr. Hairston passed away on Thursday, Jan. 18, 1996 at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 1996 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Wendell A. Johnson, pastor, officiating. Inhumation will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Walnut Cove. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service at the church. Cherishing his memory are his mother, Shirley Hairston Holloway, stepfather, William Holloway of the home; one brother, Clarence (Robin) Hairston II of Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Dana and Danielle Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one nephew, Terrell Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one great-nephew, Jalyn Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one stepbrother, Christopher Holloway; three stepsisters, Tonia (Ken) Garrison, Linda and Sherrie Holloway, all of Winston-Salem; three uncles; five aunts; one great-aunt; three stepaunts; and a host of other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to First Baptist Church. The cortege will assemble at the residence at the residence at 1:15 p.m. (HOOPER FUNERAL HOME)
From the Winston-Salem Journal, Obituaries, Saturday, January 20, 1996, Page B4
Copyright © 1996 Piedmont Publishing Co., Inc.
HAIRSTON
Mr. Curtis Kinnard Hairston of 818 Woodcote St. was born on Tuesday, October 10, 1961 to the late Clarence L. Hairston, Sr. and Shirley Crutchfield Hairston Holloway in Winston-Salem. His early public education was in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and he furthered his education at Winston-Salem State University. He furthered his musical training at Juliard School of Music in New York. While attending WSSU his freshman year, he won the "Mr. Ram" contest. Curtis was a professional vocalist, recording for Pretty Pearl Productions, Atlantic Records, and the B B and Q Label. He returned home from New York after his health began to deteriorate. Curtis accepted Christ at the age of six and remained active even through his poor health. He started singing in First Baptist Church at the age of three and was actively involved in the Tot's Choir, Children's Choir, and was an active member of the Spiritual Choir. Mr. Hairston passed away on Thursday, January 18, 1996 at the N.C. Baptist Hospital. Funeral services will be held today, January 20, 1996 at 2:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Rev. Wendell A. Johnson, Pastor, officiating. Inhumation will follow in the Fairview Cemetery in Walnut Cove. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service at the church. Cherishing his memory are his mother, Shirley Hairston Holloway; step-father, William Holloway of the home; one brother, Clarence (Robin) Hairston II of Washington, D.C.; two nieces, Dana and Danielle Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one nephew, Terrell Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one great nephew, Jalyn Hairston of Washington, D.C.; one step-brother, Christopher Holloway; three step-sisters, Tonia (Ken) Garrison, Linda and Sherrie Holloway, all of Winston-Salem; three uncles; five aunts; one great aunt; three step-aunts; and a host of other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to First Baptist Church. The cortege will assemble at the residence at the residence at 1:15 p.m. Hooper Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Curtis Kinnard Hairston.
From the Winston-Salem Journal, Saturday, January 20, 1996, Pages B1, B6
Copyright © 1996 Piedmont Publishing Co., Inc.
R&B singer Hairston, a native of Winston, dies at age 34
By Ed Bumgardner
JOURNAL ARTS REPORTER
Curtis K. Hairston was 3 years old when he made his debut as a singer.
"My father had asked Curtis to get up in church and sing," said Shirley H. Holloway, Hairston's mother. "He walked up there, reached up and grabbed that microphone like it belonged to him."
She laughed. "From that point, all Curtis ever wanted to do was sing.
Two weeks ago, Hairston, 34, again stood in front of a congregation to sing.
D'Walla Burke, the choir director at Winston-Salem State University, was in attendance to hear Hairston sing "Amazing Grace."
"It was beautiful," she said.
It was Hairston's last performance: A lifelong diabetic, Hairston died of kidney failure Thursday at Baptist Hospital.
During his lifetime, Hairston touched many people with his voice.
He performed at several social functions for the Kennedy clan, sang for two presidents and performed in Europe and Asia.
During the 1980s, Hairston, a native of Winston-Salem, moved to New York City where he released a number of acclaimed recordings for Atlantic Records and Pretty Pearl Productions, a record company run by basketball great Earl "The Pearl" Monroe.
His cool, satin-smooth delivery -- often favorably compared to that of Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson and the late Billy Eckstine -- made Hairston the toast of the New York club scene.
Hairston's talent was such that Vandross sang backup on his first record.
"Curtis had an ability to move people with his voice," Monroe said. "On Thursday, several radio stations in New York paid tribute to Curtis by playing his songs throughout the day. One of the DJs broke down and cried on the air -- which is something that never happens in New York.
"Curtis was special -- a great talent and a marvelous human being."
Janice Price, a local jazz singer, knew Hairston since he was a boy. After a performance Thursday night, Price said she went home and listened to one of Hairston's early recordings.
"I just started crying," she said. "His passing is such a tragedy. He was a terrific singer who was beyond classification, just fantastic."
Keith Byrd, a local jazz pianist, first worked with Hairston as members of Jazz Transit, a group of local musicians sponsored by the Urban Arts program.
Hairston was only 14 at the time but his delivery and stage presence were already developed.
"He was one of those people who are naturally talented," Byrd said. He was among the vocal elite. Ballad singing was his forte, and he had his own style. He knew who he was and what he wanted to be.
"As long as I knew him, all he ever thought about was singing in New York."
Hairston's ticket to New York was Monroe, whom he met in 1982 when Monroe, a graduate of Winston-Salem State, visited Winston-Salem.
"Curtis came over to the hotel where I was staying and woke me up," Monroe said, laughing. "He brought me this tape that was nearly inaudible. I told him to get me another tape, which he did. Once I heard him sing, I knew that I was listening to one of the best voices I had ever heard."
Monroe was interested in getting involved in the music business, so he founded Pretty Pearl Productions as a means of promoting Hairston.
Hairston's first release for Pretty Pearl, "I Want You (All Tonight)" became a dance-club hit in New York. The success of the song led to Hairston signing with Atlantic Records in 1986.
"Aside from doing business with Curtis, I was also a fan." Monroe said. "To be honest, Curtis made it hard on me. I listened to other singers, and I ended up turning down people like Keith Sweat -- who went on to be huge star -- because I didn't think he measured up to Curtis."
Hairston is known for such R&B recordings as "I Want You (All Tonight)," "Shining Star" and "We All Are One," but it was in church that Burke heard Hairston sing.
"Even when he was seriously ill, we had an agreement that whenever he came to church, if he felt like singing, we would let him sing," Burke said. Curtis was a very lovable, warm and sharing person, and those qualities came out in his singing.
"Everybody who listened to him sing walked away feeling like they knew him. He always made you feel like he was singing directly to you, that he understood your special needs."
Five years ago, Hairston's kidneys began to fail. Four years ago, he left New York and moved back to Winston-Salem for dialysis treatment.
"After he came home, he always loved to go to the church and sing," Holloway said.
"Even when he was so sick, he had a way of making a connection of love, peace and harmony with everyone he met. He could make those doctors and nurses smile and laugh when things were getting too serious.
"He was never angry. He once told me that he was lucky, because he had gotten paid to do something that he loved."
She fell silent. "His voice was a gift from God, and he spent his life excelling with that gift."
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