Curtis Knight

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Lore & Background

In September 1966, the band released "Hornet's Nest" backed with "Knock Yourself Out" on the RSVP label (RSVP 1124). These tracks were co-composed by Hendrix and Jerry Simon, marking the first compositions by Hendrix to appear on a recorded release. The personnel for these sessions included Curtis Knight on vocals and guitar, Jimi Hendrix on guitar and vocals, Marion Booker on drums, and Ace Hall on bass and tambourine. Later albums like "You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions," released in 2015, featured recordings from around 1965. This collection includes tracks such as "No Such Animal" and the song "How Would You Feel." AllMusic reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that "How Would You Feel" bore a strong resemblance to Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone," describing Knight as rewriting the Dylan classic as a black rock protest song.

In Their Own Story

The connection began in 1964 when Hendrix met Knight in the lobby of a Harlem residential hotel. They connected immediately, leading Hendrix to join Curtis Knight and the Squires in October of the following year. While touring with the band, Hendrix was required to sign a contract with Ed Chaplin, the owner of PPX Studios, for the sum of one dollar. This signature created a contractual bond that would later generate major problems for Hendrix after he left the group on May 20, 1966. The lineup during this era fluctuated, but specific sessions captured Knight, Hendrix, Booker, and Hall together. Their collaboration resulted in the single "Hornet's Nest," which showcased Hendrix's songwriting abilities alongside his guitar work before he moved on to international stardom.

Reader's Guide

For fans exploring the origins of Jimi Hendrix's recorded output, the sessions with Curtis Knight are essential. The primary releases include the 1966 single "Hornet's Nest"/"Knock Yourself Out" and the 2000 compilation "Knock Yourself Out: The 1965 Studio Sessions," which added five bonus live tracks to ten studio recordings. The comprehensive 2015 release, "You Can't Use My Name: The RSVP/PPX Sessions," is particularly notable for including the Hendrix co-compositions and the Dylan-esque track "How Would You Feel." When examining the personnel, note that Marion Booker (sometimes spelled Marlon) played drums, while Ace Hall handled bass and tambourine. Lonnie Youngblood served as saxophonist and vocalist. The band's sound is defined by its R&B roots, yet these specific recordings capture a unique moment where Hendrix contributed to both guitar and songwriting.

Did You Know?

• Jimi Hendrix met Curtis Knight in the lobby of a Harlem residential hotel in 1964 and joined his band exactly one year later.
• Hendrix signed a contract with Ed Chaplin for just one dollar while working with the Squires, a deal that caused major legal problems later.
• The single 'Hornet's Nest' was Hendrix's first composition to be released on record, co-written with Jerry Simon in September 1966.
• Curtis Knight and the Squires were described by Billboard as a 'workaday party R&B band.'
• The song 'How Would You Feel' recorded by the group features a strong resemblance to Bob Dylan's 'Like a Rolling Stone.'