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Ann Curless

Ann Curless is an singer and songwriter, best known as a and member of the classic lineup of the freestyle vocal group Exposé, which achieved massive commercial success in the late and early with hits. Born Ann Katherine Curless on October 7, 1964, in , she was raised in , where she graduated from in 1982 as a member of the school's Rock Ensemble. Curless briefly attended the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the in 1983–1984 to study jazz vocals, though her background was more aligned with pop and rock performance. In 1986, Curless joined Exposé alongside and , replacing earlier members and helping propel the group to stardom with their debut album (1987), which sold over two million copies in the United States and became the first debut album by a group to yield four Top 10 singles on the , including "" (#5), "" (#5), "Exposed to Love" (#9), and "Let Me Be the One" (#7). The group's follow-up efforts continued this momentum, achieving five consecutive Top 10 hits across their first two albums, culminating in the #1 single "Seasons Change" from What You Don't Know (1989), a release that solidified Exposé as one of the era's top-selling female acts with several million albums sold worldwide.) Curless provided lead vocals on key tracks like "As Long as I Can Dream" (#4 on the in 1992) and "In Walked Love" from the group's self-titled third album (1992), while also contributing songwriting, including co-writing the later Exposé single "Shine On" (2012). After Exposé's initial disbandment in 1995—following lineup changes including Gioia Bruno's departure in 1991 due to illness—Curless pursued solo projects, recording tracks such as "Lately" with the group in 1999. The group reunited in the following a successful trademark lawsuit, with Curless, Jurado, and Bruno performing together and releasing new material, including the 2011 Christmas single "I Believe in Christmas (Like It Used to Be)," maintaining Exposé's legacy as pioneers into the 2020s.

Early life

Upbringing

Ann Katherine Curless was born on October 7, 1964, in . Her family relocated during her early years, with Curless spending her grade school period in , before moving to , where she was raised. From a young age, Curless showed an interest in music through participation in her grade school , where she sang regularly. A significant influence occurred at Girl Scout camp, where she was captivated by counselors performing guitar and vocals around campfires; this experience prompted her to learn guitar and deepened her commitment to music as a pursuit. In Miami Beach, the vibrant coastal environment provided additional exposure to diverse sounds, including emerging and pop influences in the local community, fostering her personal musical interests prior to formal schooling.

Education

Ann Curless attended Miami Beach Senior High School in Miami Beach, Florida, from 1979 to 1982, graduating with the class of 1982. During her high school years, she joined the school's renowned Rock Ensemble, founded by Doug Burris in 1972, where she served as a lead vocalist and performed cover songs by artists such as Heart and Paul McCartney at local festivals and events. This involvement honed her performance skills and built on her early musical interests in singing and guitar from childhood. After high school, Curless briefly attended the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the University of Miami's in 1983–1984, initially majoring in vocal performance for one year. Finding the program's critical feedback challenging given her rock-oriented background, she switched to a major in music and music merchandising (now known as ), which combined , performance, and business coursework. Throughout her university studies, she participated in various ensembles and took on evening gigs to gain practical experience in music performance. Curless graduated from the with a degree in and music merchandising around 1986.

Career

Joining Exposé

Exposé was formed in 1984 in by producer Martineé, who assembled an initial lineup consisting of Aléjandra Lorenzo, Casañas, and Laurie to create a vocal capable of trading lead vocals in a and style. The group gained early attention with the 1985 independent single "," which topped the chart, leading to a deal with . However, amid recording sessions for their debut , significant lineup changes occurred in 1986 when Arista executives, deeming the original members lacking sufficient star potential, replaced the entire . Ann Curless, a recent graduate of the with a degree in and who had been performing in local cover bands, was recruited by Martineé in the fall of 1986 as the final addition to the revamped Arista lineup. She initially recorded vocals for tracks without meeting her new bandmates, and , and was formally introduced to them at a Mexican restaurant in shortly thereafter. This completed the group's core , with Curless taking on a lead vocal role that complemented Jurado's higher-range leads and Bruno's mezzo contributions, adding depth through her smooth, versatile delivery honed from vocal training. With the new lineup in place, Exposé signed a full album deal with and re-recorded much of the debut material to align with the refreshed vocal dynamic. The group began early promotional efforts through club performances and single releases, though they initially faced audience resistance and heckling from fans loyal to the original members during shows in places like San Jose. Despite these challenges, Curless noted that the trio quickly won over crowds as their live chemistry solidified, paving the way for the 1987 release of .

Contributions to Exposé

Ann Curless joined Exposé in 1986 and provided lead vocals on several key singles during the group's active period through 1995, contributing to their success in dance-pop, freestyle, and adult contemporary genres. Her first lead vocal feature was on "Stop, Listen, Look and Think" from the 1989 album What You Don't Know, which peaked at No. 19 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.) She also sang lead on "As Long as I Can Dream" from the 1992 self-titled album Exposé, a ballad that climbed to No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 21 on the Adult Contemporary chart, showcasing her emotive delivery in the group's shift toward more mature pop sounds. Additionally, Curless delivered the lead on "In Walked Love," another track from the 1992 album, which achieved No. 84 on the Billboard Hot 100 but performed strongly on the Adult Contemporary chart at No. 17, highlighting Exposé's crossover appeal. Curless participated in all three of Exposé's studio albums during this era, providing prominent vocal contributions that helped drive the group's chart dominance. On the debut album Exposure (1987), she shared backing vocals across multiple tracks, including hits like "Point of No Return" (No. 5 Hot 100), contributing to the album's quadruple platinum certification and its role in establishing Exposé as the first female group with four Top 10 singles from a debut. For What You Don't Know (1989), Curless took lead on tracks such as "Stop, Listen, Look and Think" and provided co-leads and backing elsewhere, including on "Your Baby Never Looked Good in Blue" (No. 17 Hot 100, lead by Jeanette Jurado), supporting the album's gold status and singles like the title track (No. 7 Hot 100). Her vocal role expanded on the 1992 album Exposé, where she led several ballads amid lineup changes, aiding tracks that sustained the group's presence on R&B and international charts, including in Europe and Japan.)) During 1986–1995, Exposé, with Curless as a core member, achieved seven consecutive Top 10 hits and topped R&B and Adult Contemporary charts, with international success in markets like the and . The group toured extensively across and internationally, performing at venues from clubs to arenas and appearing on shows like and . Their contributions earned a 1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best New R&B/Urban Contemporary Artist of the Year, recognizing their breakthrough impact in and .

Post-Exposé projects

Following the release of Exposé's in 1995, Ann Curless pursued independent endeavors and performance, focusing on vocal features, songwriting, and theater. In the late , Curless contributed lead vocals to the dance project , an English production overseen by producer Adam Morano and recorded in . She performed on three tracks—"Lately," "One," and "Open Arms"—featured on the group's 1998 album The Album, released by ZYX Records in March 1999; the project blended and pop elements, though Curless noted she participated primarily for enjoyment and was unaware of the full release at the time. Curless extended her dance music involvement into the early 2000s with features on house and tracks. She provided lead vocals for the K&M Project's remake of Donna Summer's "Heaven Knows," produced by Billy K. and Vinnie Mac and released on Waako Records in November 2000, incorporating influences reminiscent of her earlier work. Similarly, she sang lead on "Come to Me" by JJ Presents, a house remake originally by Swedish artist J.J., issued on Waako Records in March 2000 with club, dub, and instrumental mixes. Additional collaborations included background vocals for producer Vinny Vero and an unreleased remix of Exposé's "." As a songwriter, Curless co-wrote "Shine On" with Biti Strauchn and for the house project Degrees of Motion; the track, released in 1992 (UK in 1994), became a hit, peaking at number 8.) She also penned "" with James Slater for Celi Bee, a 1986 freestyle single produced by Lewis Martineé that reached number 19 on the US Dance Club Songs chart. For , Curless co-wrote tracks including "I Still Believe in Love" on the 1993 album I Wanna Love Somebody, blending adult contemporary and R&B styles. Beyond recording, Curless ventured into theater, appearing in a production of the musical Chess and participating in local acting projects, including commercials, after taking post-college classes. She further contributed to the charity initiative Songs of Love, providing custom recordings for children facing serious illnesses. In 2010, Curless organized an artist development seminar in , offering A&R feedback and industry guidance to emerging talent.

Reunion and later performances

In 2006, Ann Curless reunited with Exposé members and for the group's revival, marking their first performance together since 2003 on October 21 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in during the Freestyle Explosion concert. This lineup has remained consistent since the reunion, with Curless contributing backing and lead vocals alongside her bandmates. The reformed Exposé embarked on extensive North American tours in and , followed by ongoing performances that have sustained the group's presence in the and scenes through the present day. By 2025, they continued to headline events, including shows at the Freestyle Festival in , on March 22 and the Orleans Theater in June, demonstrating their enduring appeal to fans. In 2012, the group independently released the single "Shine On," co-written by Curless, who also performed lead vocals on the track originally popularized by . The song, featuring remixes by producers like Oliver Watts, was promoted as Exposé's return to new material and has been included in their live sets, including recent performances. Exposé's activities in 2024 and 2025 included an appearance at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on September 7, 2024, where they discussed and performed tracks like "Shine On," alongside multiple 2025 dates such as the 40th Anniversary Tour stop in , on October 11. Curless has remained an active member throughout, emphasizing the group's gratitude for their continued touring success into late 2025.

Personal life

Marriages

Ann Curless was first married to , a dance music executive at /, in the early 1990s. Their relationship developed during her time with Exposé, as Hess served as director of dance music promotion for , the label that released the group's albums. The marriage ended in , coinciding with a period of personal transition for Curless following the group's initial run of success. Curless remarried Christopher N. Weiss sometime after her divorce from Hess. The couple resides in Plainview, New York. This union occurred during a phase when Curless had largely stepped away from full-time performing to pursue other interests, including a day job in publishing.

Family

Ann Curless has three children, born after the group's initial disbandment in 1995. After the group's activities wound down around 1995, she prioritized family life, taking an extended hiatus from music to raise her young family during the early 2000s. This break allowed her to focus on amid the demands of her children's early years, with all three under the age of eight as of 2008. Among her children is a son, whom she described in 2011 as a non-conformist facing daily challenges for being true to himself; Curless emphasized her supportive role as a in embracing his individuality. She also has at least one , who by 2015 was engaging in musical outings, such as Johnny Cash's "" during a planned to Nashville and . These examples highlight how music remained a connective thread in her dynamics even outside her professional pursuits. As of 2025, Curless's children are in their late teens to mid-twenties, and she continues to balance her reunion touring with Exposé—resumed in 2006—against ongoing family responsibilities.

References

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