Celebrating Curtis Hairston

<p><span style="font-size: small;">Born on October 10, 1961, Curtis K. Hairston pursued his education at Winston-Salem State University. He further pursued his musical training at the renowned Juliard School of Music in New York City.&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Over the course of his tragically short life and career, Hairston&rsquo;s voice affected all who came to hear him sing. While well received in the United States, Curtis Hairston was particularly renowned<span class="text_exposed_show">overseas, performing widely across Europe and Asia.&nbsp;<br /><br />A lifelong diabetic, Curtis passed away at the age of 34 on January 18, 1996 of kidney failure. Curtis Hairston was a gifted performer and vocalist, and a special man; loved and admired by all who knew him, personally and through his music. Curtis could move an audience when he sang, a rare gift he graciously shared with the world.</span></span></p><p><span class="text_exposed_show" style="font-size: small;">Curtis Kinnard Hairston, an American vocalist, has often been compared to Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson and the late Billy Eckstine in style and execution of his music. In the 1980s, Hairston recorded and released several celebrated hits for Atlantic Records and Pretty Pearl Productions, the record company owned by NBA Hall of Fame Legend Earl "The Pearl" Monroe. Positively received by critics and public alike, Curtis recorded several hits in his solo career as well as with the soul funk group, BB&amp;Q Band.&nbsp;</span></p>