Biography
the man and the music.

Most of us know the importance of honesty and integrity. Perley Curtis is no stranger to these words either, as nothing but a pure, honest love for traditional country music flows from this gentleman’s songs. Curtis is not a native of the south, however, while growing up in Maine, the young Curtis developed a love of country music and its legends like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn. After first picking up a guitar at age eight, he played his first paying gig when he was just nine years old - at his uncle’s wedding reception.

In the years following, Curtis performed in bluegrass bands throughout New England then moved to Nashville in 1988. Since his move to Music City, this singer/songwriter/musician has performed in bands of his own and has also earned a reputation as a skilled Dobro and steel guitarist, performing with artists such as: Loretta Lynn, Connie Smith, Johnny Paycheck, Del Reeves, Becky Hobbs, Holly Dunn, The Reno Brothers, Trace Adkins and most recently Charlie Louvin. Curtis feels that moving to Nashville was a definite turning point in his career, "All of my greatest accomplishments have happened since I moved to Nashville."

Although multi-talented, Curtis is clear to focus his efforts on his own career as a recording artist. His first CD, Heartbreak Town, showcased his no-frills vocal style and Dobro expertise. The ten song CD is packed with tales of Americana. Recording artist Becky Hobbs was quick to praise this work, "From the toe-tapping title cut to the haunting ‘Love Without Walls,’ the songs on Heartbreak Town shine like pebbles in a mountain stream." Curtis' more recent self-titled CD is more of the same, as is the new duet CD he just released with his wife, Erin Hay Curtis, entitled The Right Combination. True blue country music fans will not be disappointed.

Curtis enjoys looking back on his many successes, counting his six-year tour with Loretta Lynn and a one-year tour with Charlie Louvin as a career highlights. "Loretta and Charlie were influences of mine growing up, so it was certainly an honor to be on the road with them." Today, Perley is focusing on his solo/touring career.

endorsements

I first met Perley Curtis at a concert I was doing at Cypress Gardens in Florida in the early 1980s. We were both Dobro players in bluegrass bands, and we became immediate friends. In addition to loving bluegrass and playing the Dobro guitar, we were both crazy about traditional country music and loved and played, whenever we could, the pedal steel guitar. We hung out a bit over the next few yeras, trading licks and talking of things involving steel guitar. Perley soon made the move to Nashville and started working with some well known country acts as a steel player. We lost track of each other over the years, and the next time I heard from him, he was making his own recordings as a singer. And he's a great singer! This was a talent I never even knew he possessed twenty-five years ago. He's a humble and extremely talented guy. Perley knows what real country music is supposed to sound like! He has assembled a cast of great singers and musicians, many of them also old and dear friends of mine, to help get his point across on this, his latest project. I know you'll love it! Mike Auldridge