The Ballad of Curtis Loew

"The Ballad of Curtis Loew"[2][3][4] is a song written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant and recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The song was first released on the band's 1974 album, Second Helping[5] and again on their compilation, The Essential Lynyrd Skynyrd and later on All Time Greatest Hits.

He gives the money to an old black man named Curtis Loew, who buys wine and plays blues songs on his old Dobro guitar for the boy all day.

"[6] The band's website says that the song is based on a composite of people who actually lived in the Van Zants' original neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida.

The specific spelling of the surname comes from Ed King writing the liner notes for the Second Helping and deciding to name the bluesman after the Jewish Loew's Theatre.