Edward Nicholas Curiel of Hutchinson, Kansas, passed away Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 at Good Samaritan Village in Hutchinson after several health setbacks over the past few years. Shortly after his passing his small long-term care room was just the way he would have wanted it: full of his beloved family saying their last goodbyes.
Throughout his life, Ed was a serene soul with a playful spirit, creative and had a deep passion for music. Ed was a cool father, brother, uncle, son and drummer with given nicknames: “Breeze” for his cool, confident demeanor and “Shuffle King” for his drumming style.
Ed was born September 8th, 1942 in Moundridge, Kansas. He was the ninth child of the late Manuel G. Curiel Sr. and Catherine Lopez Curiel.
Eddie, as everyone called him in his early years, cherished his childhood - growing up with his numerous siblings, cousins and neighbor friends - who all influenced his early life. During his formative years, The Curiel family proudly opened La Fiesta, the first Mexican restaurant in Hutchinson.
Ed's creative journey began early, while attending St Teresa’s Catholic School in the 4th grade he created a winning Fire Prevention poster. At Sherman Junior High he won a blue ribbon for his drawing inspired by the hit song “Purple People Eater”. He and his art teacher were interviewed on a local television show about his blue-ribbon drawing. In High School he made a series of campaign posters for his friend in music who was running for class president, with one creative headline reading “Please, Please, Please Vote for Ralph Brown” with a drawing of James Brown.
By the age of 14, his love for music took over. His early musical influences were listening to his brothers’ records of Ray Charles, James Brown, Little Richard and blues music. He would fondly remember his brother Manuel taking him to the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars at the Auditorium in Wichita. His biggest inspiration came when his cousin Max Pina gifted him his first practice pad and drum for lessons in Jr. High, sparking a lifelong passion. Max then invited him to the Alfaro family house for jam sessions. His drumming skills were becoming so impressive his dad helped him purchase his first drum set to play with the Twisters band.
The mid-sixties were a real highlight of his life. Around 1963 after several years with the Twisters and Imperials, he played so well he was invited to join a well-known band from Wichita called Jerry Wood and the Peggs. They had a manager from Kentucky, Charlie Daniels who went on to become a country legend. Under Charlie Daniels management, Jerry Wood and the Peggs toured clubs and military bases across the midwest in the mid sixties. For different reasons the band ended and he then teamed up with his musical friends and they opened a night club called Midnight Hour in Hutchinson, that brought national acts to town including B.B. King.
By the late 60s, he played in several different bands that once again included the multi-talented Jerry Wood. During this same period, he took a full-time day job in photo mechanics at Lowen Sign Company, designing signage for companies across the United States. After a few years at Lowen’s he was promoted to head of the art department. He worked there for 36 years until his retirement.
In the 1970s, he took a break from playing in bands and married Sandy Beitler. In 1973, they welcomed their only daughter Chanda. During this time, he focused his creative energies on painting and like his father, providing creative direction for projects at his church, Our Lady of Guadalupe in South Hutch. This included the architecture of a new church parish and an Our Lady of Guadalupe mural with Artist-Ceramicist Fred Henze. This mural is featured in the 2006 book Kansas Murals: A Traveler’s Guide.
In the 1980s, he enjoyed attending Blues Festivals - the Chicago Blues Festival was a favorite. During these trips, he met some of his favorite blue’s legends, like Buddy Guy. Near the end of the 1980s, Ed was back playing live music in local bands with his brother-in-law Ralph Brown. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed they played nearly every weekend somewhere around Kansas with the band Alterior Motives. After he retired from Lowens in 2004, he and Ralph formed different Jazz combos and played together up until 2019.
Some of the many bands he was in; the Twisters, Jerry Wood and the Peggs, Imperials, Backstreets, Alterior Motives, Steel Wheels, Red Lion Jazz Band, DrumSaxAxe and Todaze Combo. Ed's musical legacy extends beyond performances; he inspired younger family members to embrace the drums.
He had a deep admiration for Kansas music legend Mike Finnigan and never missed seeing him when he was in town. He was always honored when Mike would call him out in the audience. There wasn’t a day he didn’t think about his musical adventures with Jerry Wood. In one of his last conversations with his daughter, he mentioned someone on television looked just like Jerry.
In retirement, he dedicated time to his church in perpetual prayer every Sunday night. He shared his local historical knowledge with The Reno County Museum; Hispanic Heritage and music history exhibits. He also contributed to the 2017 “Wichita Rock & Roll 1950-1980” book and “Rock ’N Roll in Reno County” journal. He spent a few semesters volunteering and performing with the Hutchinson High School Salt Hawk Review.
Also in retirement, Ed loved spending time with different branches of his large family, going to concerts, exchanging music, taking photos with his digital camera, watching his favorite tv show Sanford and Son, having a late breakfast at the Village Inn and visiting his daughter and son-in-law in Arizona. Ed’s bright light will be sorely missed.
Ed is survived by his daughter, Chanda Curiel-Miller (Dan), brothers, Severo, Pete (Ruby) and Rudy (Shirley); sisters, Micaela Garcia, Carmen Vieyra, Mary Colby, Linda Pina and Juanita Brown (Ralph); numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and his dear friend Dale Borth. Ed was preceded in death by his parents Catherine and Manuel Sr.; brothers, Manuel Jr., Johnny and Richard; sister, Angel.
Parish Rosary will be 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 a.m., both at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 612 S. Maple, South Hutchinson. Inurnment will follow in Eastside Cemetery, Hutchinson. Friends may sign his book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Eddie Curiel Music Scholarship Fund (through the Vieyra Foundation for the Arts), in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501. This scholarship helps ensure that Ed's passion for music continues to inspire future generations.