Curtis Knight and the Squires
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Headquarters | New York , United States |
Key people | Curtis Knight, Jimi Hendrix, Lonnie Youngblood |
| Products | Music recordings, singles, albums |
Curtis Knight and the Squires was a New York-based ensemble active in the mid-1960s, fronted by vocalist and guitarist Curtis Knight. Among its members at various times were both Jimi Hendrix and saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood.
Background
Characterized by Billboard as a reliable party R&B group, the band's personnel shifted throughout its existence. Saxophonist Lonnie Youngblood was part of the roster. The lineup depicted on the cover of the You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions album features Curtis Knight, Jimi Hendrix, Marion Booker, and Ace Hall.
In 1964, Hendrix encountered Knight in a Harlem hotel lobby, subsequently joining Curtis Knight and the Squires in October 1965. During his tenure with the band, Hendrix entered into a contract with PPX Studios proprietor Ed Chaplin for a nominal fee of one dollar, which later resulted in legal complications. Hendrix departed from the Squires on May 20, 1966.
Releases
September 1966 saw the release of "Hornet's Nest" backed with "Knock Yourself Out" on the RSVP label (RSVP 1124), co-written by Hendrix and Jerry Simon. These recordings are among Hendrix's earliest known compositions to be officially issued.
The UK label Jungle Records released in 2000 the album Jimi Hendrix with Curtis Knight & The Squires – Knock Yourself Out: The 1965 Studio Sessions, containing ten studio tracks alongside five additional live recordings.
The 2015 compilation You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions gathers Hendrix’s circa-1965 recordings with the band, including tracks like "Hornets Nest," "No Such Animal," and "Knock Yourself Out." It also includes "How Would You Feel," a rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Like a Rolling Stone," which AllMusic describes as a black rock protest anthem.
Personnel
- Napoleon Anderson (also known as Hank Anderson) – bass
- Marion Booker (frequently spelled Marlon Booker) – drums
- George Bragg – drums
- Nathaniel Edmonds Sr. (Nate Edmonds) – keyboards
- Ditto Edwards – drums
- Ed "Bugs" Gregory – bass
- Ace Hall – bass and tambourine
- James Marshall Hendrix (also Jimmy James or Jimi Hendrix) – guitar and vocals
- Harry Jensen – guitar and bass
- Curtis McNear (Curtis Knight) – vocals, guitar, tambourine
- Ray Lucas – drums
- "Shears" – guitar (sessions from 1967)
- Lonnie Thomas (Lonnie Youngblood) – saxophone and vocals
Discography
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Hornet's Nest" / "Knock Yourself Out" | RSVP RSVP 1124 | 1966 |
| Title | Release info | Year | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knock Yourself Out: The 1965 Studio Sessions | Jungle Records FREUD CD 066 | 2000 | CD | Released in UK |
| You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions | Experience Hendrix, Sony Music, Legacy 88875077992 | 2015 | CD |