Curtiss A

Curtiss A
Nationality	United States of America

Curtiss A
Curtiss A in 2017
Born	Curt Almsted (1951-01-31) January 31, 1951
Occupation	Musician, visual artist
Years active	1969-present

Curtiss A (born Curt Almsted on January 31, 1951) is a musician and visual artist from Minneapolis. One of the original artists on the Twin/Tone Records label, he performs one of the most popular shows in the Twin Cities, an annual tribute to John Lennon held at First Avenue. He was the first musician to headline at First Avenue's sister club 7th Street Entry, and opened for Prince's first concert at First Avenue (then still called Uncle Sam's).

During his hiatus from music, Curtiss turned to making collages, an art form that has interested him since childhood and has fulfilled his desire “to see stuff that wasn’t together, together.” He mixes all types and periods of art, particularly different styles of comic book illustrations.

Curtiss describes his collages as dreamscapes where iconic figures—or other images that embody a mythic quality—are placed in iconoclastic situations or surroundings. He often uses political and theological images along with depictions of superheroes to represent the constant struggle for justice and to question who or what is truly good. His work also has a great deal of humor, leaving the viewer with a mixture of despair and hope.

Since his return to music, Curtiss has released several albums, and he plays throughout the Twin Cities with his band, The Jerks of Fate. His annual Lennon show is being documented by Twin Cities filmmaker Amy Buchanan.

Personal life

Almsted has four daughters; the third, Alyson, died in 1987 of sudden infant death syndrome. He has five grandchildren.

Honors and awards

Almsted has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.

Selected discography

Courtesy

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Rolling Stone

Damage Is Done

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

Scarlet Letter

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

• Courtesy (Twin/Tone, 1980)
• Damage Is Done (Twin/Tone, 1984)
• Scarlet Letter (Twin/Tone, 1988)
• Jerks of Fate (independent, 2020)