Curtis

The Calling; Dianne Reeves

Dianne Reeves came to Annapolis in January of 2002. I saw it in the newspaper and had to call Curtis. Hey, Curtis. “Hello.” Dianne Reeves is coming to town. Do you want to go? “Oh, YEAH! Get a ticket for me.”

I met Curtis on February 11, 1994, in Auckland, New Zealand. He was the first person I met after disembarking the shuttle from the airport to the Royal Odyssey. “You the new piano player?” Yeah, my name’s Erik. “The bass player D. was talking about you as the shuttle pulled up. Have you had lunch?” Oh, is that what I’m supposed to eat next? I thought I had dinner a couple of hours ago. “Put your gear in your room and I’ll show you what a New Zealand hamburger tastes like.” He was an instant friend.

Curtis worked on the ship as an illusionist and as a hypnotist; comedic on both accounts. I thoroughly enjoyed playing for and watching his shows. He had a quick wit and always kept things fun and clean. After he had hypnotized his – victims? – during his hypnotism show, he got very creative with the people on stage. My favorite was when he told them, while “under”, that the number eight didn’t exist. When he brought them out, he would ask one of them to count their fingers. Then, they would count to eleven, and the look on their face was worth the price of a cruise.

At the end of his contract about six weeks later, I told him that I was sorry to see him go. “Don’t worry. Royal Cruise Line likes me. We’ll see each other again soon.” And he was right. Three months later, he came to work on the Star Odyssey. Curtis! What a surprise! “I told you. Royal Cruise Line likes me.” His contract had him stay for three months while we traversed the peaceful waters of Alaska. How do you know so much about Alaska? “I grew up in Skagway.” Curtis came and went two or three more times during the rest of my voyages on the Star Odyssey.

I lost track of him for about two or three years. But then, I found a telephone number in my address book, so I called to see what would happen. It led me to another number – and then another number. Finally, I found him in Annapolis, Maryland. AND … he had gotten married. “Are you coming to visit?” I’m going to do you one better. “What, you’re moving in?” Then I told him about “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band and how they were about to become burdened with me as their new piano player.

The first time I went to his house, I met his wonderful new wife Susan. She was an instant friend. Together, they became as good as family. It was always a pleasure to let them know where and when I was playing around town and it was a treat to see them.

In 2006, my good friend Curtis passed away, after enduring the weight and load of a monster, whose encumbrance proved too substantial to bear. During his ordeal, it was made plain to me that I was part of his family and Susan’s family and, to this very day, they are very special to me.

Curtis and I walked the few short blocks from his home to see Dianne Reeves that January and she totally blew us away. During the concert she announced that she would be singing during the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, in just a few weeks and that she would be singing “Fascinating Rhythm” from her new album.

Curtis bought her new CD for me that night.

It’s special. And it’s awesome.

Credits: To the memory of my friend Curtis. All of your troubles are gone, my friend. It must feel wonderful. And to my friend Susan. You are a rock.

This is the forty-first of my final forty-five CD’s.