Background
Curley was born into a musical family in Monroe, North Carolina, United States of America, and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts.
Curley was born into a musical family in Monroe, North Carolina, United States of America, and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts.
He subsequently studied with Virgil Fox, Robert Elmore, George Thalben-Ball and Arthur Poister.
Curley developed his performance style in the manner of Virgil Fox, with respect to popularising classical organ music popular to a wider audience, which included his arrangements and transcriptions of pieces from other classical genres. Curley was the first classical organist to perform a solo organ recital at the White House, and also played before several European heads of state. He toured extensively throughout the world, and earned the marketing nickname "the Pavarotti of the Organ". he was one of only a few concert organists worldwide who supported themselves exclusively by giving recitals, concerts and master classes, without any supplement from teaching or church position.
Curley used a substantial Allen touring organ where the venue lacked an instrument of sufficient scope to support his repertoire.
He recorded commercially for various labels such as Radio Corporation of America, ProArte, Rediffusion and Decca International. Curley served as patron for numerous music societies as well as for the newly formed British Academy of Music.
He was involved in organ design and construction and served as advisor to numerous clients, including Melbourne City Council (Australia), and The Cube, Shiroishi (Japan). His autobiography In The Pipeline was published by HarperCollins in 1998.
A life-long bachelor, Curley died on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at age 59, in Melton Mowbray, England.
His ashes are interred in the grounds of Pershore Abbey in the United Kingdom.