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During the late Nineties the Author landed the role as the Grand MixMaster in an episode of ABC’s Second Noah. The Author finally fulfilled his Lifelong dream of becoming an on-air talent for Oldies Radio-U-92 in St.Petersburg, from Oct-1997-Aug-1998. In the new millennium the Author continues to be one of the most popular and sought after Grand MixMasters/Entertainer’s in the State. His future goals are to establish a Florida Rock, Pop, Soul and Dance music "Hall of Fame" museum as well as publishing a second Volume covering 1986-1996. In January-February 2002 he was flown to Miami to write the history and liner notes for a double CD released by world legendary record promoter and producer, Henry Stone.
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MEET THE AUTHOR
By the time he reached his
late teens, he was virtually a walking Encyclopedia who defied anyone to try
and stump him on Rock & Soul trivia, facts and history. It was also during
the early Seventies that noted club manager, Jake Lamotta, Jr., son of famed
boxing legend, Jake “The Raging Bull” Lamotta, discovered him. Lamotta
introduced Curtis to famed California nightclub musician, recording artist,
Grand MixMaster, Tony Dezago. Dezago, a well-traveled entertainer had never
met anybody who knew more about the “ Oldies” than Kurt Curtis. Offered a
position as an “Oldies” nightclub DJ for the nationally famed “Flanigan’s
nightclub chain, Curtis was sent to Daytona Beach in late 1976, where he
established one of the first and hottest “Oldies’ clubs in the nation.
Highly respected by his loyal following in Daytona Beach, they crowned him
with the title, “K.O.T.O.”, the undisputed “King Of The Oldies”. While in
Daytona Beach, the legendary “ Wolfman Jack”, as well as Sha Na Na, took the
time to visit him. On the world’s most famous beach Curtis became a local
legend. His first class Oldies shows are still talked about to this day and
are fondly remembered by thousands.
In 1979
he was invited to attend Dick Clarks 50th Birthday party in Orlando. Soon
the “K.O.T.O.” became the subject of many feature newspaper articles and TV
documentaries. Southern Music Magazine called him a legend of the South. In
1982, he was invited to Atlanta where he programmed the hottest “ Oldies”
club in the city. While in Atlanta, he was offered a position with the
largest nightclub chain in the country, “McFadden Ventures”, where his
talent and knowledge of music was utilized to help set up music formats for
the nationally acclaimed Confetti nightclub chain. While in Atlanta Curtis
mastered the art of mixing Dance Club music after befriending Grand MixMaster Tito Acosta at the legendary and mammoth Limelight Disco. In 1983 he
was brought into Tampa to host Confetti-Tampa. After an incredible run
there, he was transferred to open Confetti-Ft. Lauderdale. 
It was
during the early Eighties that Kurt "K.O.T.O." Curtis decided to write an
Encyclopedia, which would preserve the music heritage of his home state of
Florida. With no financial backing, air or ground support, this mammoth and
expensive solo undertaking took him 21 years to complete. Now for the first
time ever, his finished masterpiece entitled, "Florida’s Famous and
Forgotten"-(The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Florida Rock, Soul and Dance
music-Vol-1-The first Thirty years-1955-1985)", is without a doubt the most
incredibly and intricately detailed account of every Florida recording
artist or band who recorded for a nationally distributed or major record
label. Besides the comprehensive history and Discography’s for each
artist/band, he has captured the history behind the state’s most famous
radio stations and the "Boss Jocks" who rode the turntables during Florida’s
"Golden Age" of REAL Top Forty radio.
Also included is a list of Florida’s "Top 200 Greatest Rock, Pop & Soul
Classics", "Top 40 Greatest Dance Classics", "Top 30 Greatest Rockabilly
Classics", ranked in the order of their grandeur. You’ll also find a
detailed listing of hundreds of recordings that have either mentioned a
city, keys, rivers, springs, place or the name of Florida in the lyrics. The
hundreds of one-of-a kind priceless photos and memorabilia make this
"Florida State Music Encyclopedia" a must for music connoisseurs,
aficionados, record collector’s, radio stations, nightclub DJ’s, libraries
and institutes of higher learning. If at one time you were a Florida
recording artist/band that cut a Rock, Soul, or Dance music record on a
major or nationally distributed record label between l955-1985, you’ll be
found in the pages of this magnificent "Who’s Who of Florida Rock, Soul and
Dance Music". Kurt "K.O.T.O." Curtis was a major contributor for the book
"Savage Lost"-(Florida Garage Bands-The 60’S and Beyond) written and
published by Jeff Lemlich in February 1992.