[2] A longtime sufferer of diabetes, Hairston died of related kidney failure at age 34 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in January 1996.
After completing his education at the Juilliard School of Music in 1980, he immediately started to search for record label contracts.
It just so happened, that at the same time; old school friend Earl Monroe had formed a label called Pretty Pearl.
[3] In 1984, he did a cover version of Jimmy Cliff's "We All Are One", which became his first Billboard R&B chart hit, reaching No.
[4] The album proved successful in the UK, with the song "Dreamer" becoming a top 40 hit,[5] however Curtis remained uncredited for this act.
[3] Additionally, singer Luther Vandross provided backing vocals on some of the songs included with his debut album.
[6] In 2012, Reverse Spin Music released a greatest hits album entitled Celebrating Curtis Hairston.