Curt Massey
Curt Massey | |
---|---|
Curt Massey, c. 1945 | |
Born |
Curt Massey May 3, 1910 Midland, Texas |
Died |
October 21, 1991, age 81 Rancho Mirage, California |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Singer, musician |
Spouse(s) | Edythe |
Children | Stephen and David |
Parent(s) | Mr. and Mrs. Henry Massey |
Curt Massey (May 3, 1910 – October 21, 1991)[1] was a musician in the old-time radio era.
Early years
Massey was born in Midland, Texas.[1] He came from a musical family, the best known of whom was probably Louise Massey, a country and western singer. Their father was Henry Massey.[2] As a youngster, he studied violin, trumpet, cornet, and piano.[3] He went on to study music at the Horner Conservatory of Music in Kansas City.[4]
Curt played violin for the family's musical group, Louise Massey and the Westerners.[1]
Radio
Massey had two self-titled music-variety programs. Curt Massey Time was on CBS beginning in 1943;[5] The Curt Massey Show was on ABC beginning in 1949. The latter co-starred Martha Tilton and was sometimes billed as The Curt Massey and Martha Tilton Show or as Alka-Seltzer Time.[6]
Other programs on which Massey was featured included Nash-Kelvinator's Musical Hits,[7] Sheaffer World Parade,[8] Romance in Rhythm,[9] Twilight Trail,[10] The Friday Night Show,[11] The Andrews Sisters Program,[6]:33 Avalon Time,[6]:43 KMBC Brush Creek Follies,[6]:101 Holiday for Music,[6]:312 Plantation Jubilee,[6]:525 and Plantation Party.[12]
In some cases, Massey arranged music for programs in addition to singing and playing instruments.[13]
Television
Massey wrote and sang the theme song for the television series Petticoat Junction.[14]
Recognition
In 1961, Massey received an Emmy Award "for his career in radio and television."[14]
Personal life
Massey and his wife, Edythe, had two sons, Stephen and David.[4]
Death
Massey died October 21, 1991, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 81.[3]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1936 | The Hills of Old Wyomin' | Himself as a Westerners Band Member | Short film directed by Dave Fleischer. |
1937 | Twilight on the Trail | Himself as a Member of The Westerners Band |
|
1938 | Love Goes West | Himself as a Member of The Westerners Band |
|
Where the Buffalo Roam | Fiddle Player |
| |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1963 | The Beverly Hillbillies | Violinist | Episode: "The Garden Party" (S 2:Ep 11) |
1971 | Officer Massey | Episode: "Jethro Returns: (S 9:Ep 24) | |
Screenplay credits
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1966 | Petticoat Junction | Episode: "Kate Grounds Selma Plout" (S 4:Ep 7) |
Television composer credits
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1963–70 | Petticoat Junction | 199 episodes |
1964–71 | The Beverly Hillbillies | 222 episodes |
Soundtrack credits
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1936 | The Hills of Old Wyomin' | Member of The Westerners Band | |
1937 | Twilight on the Trail | Member of The Westerners Band | |
1944 | Swing in the Saddle | Writer |
|
1948 | The Strawberry Roan | The Angel Song (When the Angels turn the lights on in Heaven) | |
Partial discography
- If I Had My Way (Columbia 1945)[16]
- You've Got Me Where You Want Me (Columbia 1945)[16]
- Sweetheart of My Dreams (Columbia 1945)[16]
- Candy (Columbia 1945)[16]
- Five Minutes More (Cadet 1946)[17]
References
- 1 2 3 DeLong, Thomas A. (1996). Radio Stars: An Illustrated Biographical Dictionary of 953 Performers, 1920 through 1960. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. Pp. 185-186.
- ↑ "Mabie, Victoria Louise Massey". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- 1 2 "Singer Curt Massey dead at 81". California, San Bernardino. The San Bernardino County Sun. October 22, 1991. p. 35.
- 1 2 Massey, Edythe (April 1952). "Curt Massey -- the MAN in my life" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. 37 (5): 38–39, 101. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ↑ Terrace, Vincent (1981), Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930-1960. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-498-02393-1. P. 67.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. Pp. 18, 173.
- ↑ "(Kelvinator advertisement)". Life. August 5, 1946. p. 2. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
- ↑ "Four-Way Pick-Up". Billboard. February 19, 1944. p. 11. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ↑ "(radio listing)". New York, Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. December 27, 1939. p. 22. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Her Songs Heard On Western Trail". Oregon, Roseburg. The News-Review. October 16, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Radio Highlights". Illinois, Freeport. Freeport Journal-Standard. September 13, 1940. p. 7. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Plantation Party to Feature Girls". Utah, Ogden. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. May 19, 1939. p. 12. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Song Wrangler". Oregon, Roseburg. The News-Review. October 31, 1939. p. 3. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 "Curt Massey". Orlando Sentinel. October 23, 1991. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
- ↑ "Where the Buffalo Roam]". TCM database. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Massey on MBS Net" (PDF). Billboard. January 20, 1945. p. 63. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ↑ "Honor Roll of Hits" (PDF). Billboard. October 5, 1946. p. 20. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
External links
- Curt Massey at the Internet Movie Database
- Curt Massey at TV.com
- Streaming episodes of Alka-Seltzer Time with Curt Massey and Martha Tilton, from The Internet Archive