Curtis Reginald Lewis

Curtis Reginald Lewis (August 29, 1918, Fort Worth, Texas – May 23, 1969, Kew Gardens, New York), American composer of popular songs, many of which have become jazz standards. He grew up in Chicago and came to New York City in the 1940s. Lewis subsequently became one of the first black composers and lyricists to own a music publishing company on Broadway in the early 1950s.

Having served in the United States Army during World War II (from August 22, 1942, discharged as a Staff Sergeant December 2, 1945), the body of Curtis Reginald Lewis was interred at the Long Island National Cemetery, Farmingdale, NY.

Selected Compositions

Shirley Horn; Album: All Night Long (1981)
Billie Holiday
George Shearing Quintet with Nancy Wilson; Album: The Swingin's Mutual!
Freddie Roach; Album: Brown Sugar
Aretha Franklin; Album: Sweet Bitter Love
Sonny Criss; Album: Crisscraft (1975)
Sandy Graham; Album: Sandy Graham
Elkie Brooks; Album: No More the Fool: The Collection
Rolf Delfos, Marijn Wijnands; Album: Complete Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Beverley Staunton, Album: Here's to You
Mary Stallings; Album: Live at the Village Vanguard
Mary Stallings; Album: San Francisco Jazz Festival
Dylan Cramer, John Nolan, Ron Johnston; Album: All Night Long
Nancy Wilson; Album: Lady Sings the Blues
Joe Sample, Randy Crawford; Album: Feeling Good
Diana Krall; Album: Only Trust Your Heart (1995)
Shirley Horn; Album: Embers And Ashes (1960)
Shirley Horn; Album: Embers And Ashes (1960)

Three Mo' Tenors; RCA Victor (2001)

Selected Albums

The Garden of The Blues Shirley Horn sings Curtis Lewis, Steeple Chase Records

Film & TV