Honey Hush - Curley Bridges
Curley Wilson Bridges was born on February 7, 1934, in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, just outside Raleigh. His father, who was a friend of Fats Waller, worked as a farmer and musician, and his mother was a church organist. Bridges couldn't escape the influence of country blues, which permeated black southern rural life. As well, whenever Joe Turner or Louis Jordan was playing in Raleigh, he'd sneak in to catch a glimpse of his musical heroes. Although he showed no interest in playing an instrument as a child, Curley developed his young voice by singing in various gospel choirs. It wasn't until Bridges was drafted into the army at 19 and was exposed to the boogie-woogie piano styles of Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson and Piano Red, that he resolved to learn to play the piano. After receiving a medical discharge from the military, he settled in Washington, D.C., where he set about absorbing everything he could from the vibrant music scene there while he supported himself sc...