Barbara Sutton Curtis was born in Howell, Missouri in 1930 and grew up an ardent admirer of her elder brother's prowess on the piano. The eight year spread meant that they were never close as children. That changed after they became adults and they shared the same stage on numerous occasions since first working out on two pianos in the summer of 1959 when Ralph had a gig at Squaw Valley.
She has said "For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be as good as, or even better than, Ralph at the piano. I really wanted to beat the socks off him, though logically I should have known better. He has bigger hands than I and is stronger, and he had all those years on me playing every night."
Living in Ukiah in Mendocino County, California since 1969, she maintains her musical career, but on a regional scale. She teaches music and performs locally in a variety of settings.
In 1987 she toured Germany as a member of a "Tribute to Fats Waller" package and also appeared in tandem with brother Ralph at St. Louis' "Mid America Festival".
In November of 1991 she joined Ralph in Baden, Switzerland, for a concert performance before a large audience of 700 people. Selections from this concert can be heard on a Sackville recording "Solos & Duets"