You should feature Curtis at least once a year — and it would take the rest of your natural life to describe the rich tapestry of mood, meaning and maturity in his songs.

Street scholar, guru-griot, cool cat, philosopher… Curtis has been all this for me.

Where you hear the blues, I hear a resounding message that life is serious business for “Black” people in the United States. Somber, solemn, and sobering, his music consistently pays tribute to our collective strength and reminds us of the courage and stamina it takes to make this world a better place.

And there is happiness in his lyrics; a quiet contentment in knowing that we each can make a difference. Just sit and listen for awhile. LISTEN! Curtis delivered the word. From his gospel roots through the doo-wop days, on to Soul, funk, disco and beyond — what Curtis had to say endures.

Oh, did I mention that he’s my all-time favorite artist?