A wise man once said, “Do what you love, and you'll never work a single day in your life”.

If that’s true, Curtis Fondren has never worked, but he’s definitely played- a lot. He’s no stranger to the music sections of some of Chicago’s top churches. His first opportunity as a recording session drummer came with the Late Rev. Clay Evans and The Ship/ Dr. Lou Della Evans-Reid and Fellowship Choir.

For 36 years Curtis played behind gospel music icon, the Late Rev. Maceo L. Woods and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir. Today, Curtis serves as an integral part of the musical dream team at the Christian Tabernacle Church Baptist, accompanying the Famed Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir, under the leadership of it’s current Joshua, Pastor DeAndre Patterson.

Curtis is the epitome of a seasoned music professional. As a master percussionist having performed in various genres with adept musicians and singers including Fontella Bass, David Peaston, Dionne Warwick, Lester Bowie, Tramaine Hawkins, Rev. Jesse Dixon, The Barrett Sisters, Rev. James Cleveland, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Albertina Walker, Lamont Lenox, Twinkie Clark, Chrystal Rucker and Rev. Jessie Jackson and The Operation Push Choir to name a few.

In over 3 decades, Curtis developed and perfected his craft while playing on numerous recordings. These recordings included Rev. Clay Evans and The Fellowship Baptist Church Choir, Dr. Charles G. Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir ( including the Gold selling Jesus Can Work it Out LP), Gospel Music Legends Donald and Geraldine Gay, Rev. Calvin Bridges, Elsa Harris, Fontella Bass, and a host of others. These recordings led to the doors of opportunities which would take him across the United States and Abroad.

Curtis served as part of the musical staff of Chicago’s renowned Black Ensemble Theater under the leadership of Jackie Taylor. He has been featured on both the Oprah Winfrey and Phil Donahue shows as well as WGN Morning News and Fox Thing in The Morning. In his capacity as lyricist and songwriter, his music has been recorded by David Peaston as well as placement in a full-length feature film.

Curtis served as co-producer for Rev. Clay Evans & The Ship, What a Legacy disc that spent some 16 weeks on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums Charts in 2016, reaching #3. In addition to co-producing Eliana Porter’s Create in Me a Clean Heart/I'll Say Yes EP 2021. Curtis also served as co-producer and writer on the Pastor DeAndre Patterson and The Christian Tabernacle Concert Choir’s Legacy disc 2023. He continues to write and produce for other artists.

Curtis Fondren makes it clear that he wasn’t just playing drums all those years, he was also listening. Now, he celebrates and reveals his own music in the form of his debut double cd, “Heart Songs & Other Melodies” Vol. 1. One disc is Gospel, and the other Secular. As drummers do, he is part of the band. But now, he takes his place in the distinguished field of composers and producers, joined by co-writers Gregory Gay and Jocelyn Buchanan. The double disc's single,“With Thee I Wed” (the wedding song) which features Desmond Pringle & Felicia Coleman-Evans has been enjoying worldwide airplay and peaked at # 1 on the Billboard Nielsen BDS Internet Radio Gospel Chart ( week 7 November 2021). Curtis Fondren and Jocelyn Buchanan created the song with hopes to inspire the Christian and Secular world about the sanctity of marriage as ordained by God. If you love music, whether it’s gospel, non-gospel, or both, Listen to the Man.

The Writings of Curtis Fondren Heart Songs & Other Melodies Vol. 1 Produced By: Gregory Gay, Curtis Fondren, Pharis Evans Jr. Curtis joins the ranks of elite music makers and influences as a Voting Member of The Recording Academy, endorsements from Soultone Cymbals and Xcel Drumsticks