Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis (1937–2025) had a front-row seat to the birth of rock ’n’ roll. The son of cotton farmers and a child musical prodigy from Meadow, he joined his high school friend Buddy Holly for Holly's earliest Nashville recording sessions. Over the course of his decades-long career, Curtis went on to write some of the most recognizable songs in the American songbook, including radio hits, television jingles, and the theme song for the groundbreaking TV series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
Why They Matter
His brief stint with The Crickets and the songs he penned for other artists, most notably “I Fought the Law” and “Walk Right Back,” helped lay the groundwork for what would become a defining blueprint of rock n’ roll. Not only were the songs commercially successful, but they also helped codify the sound, structure, and attitude that countless musicians would follow.
Signature Sound & Style
Through the lens of country and rhythm and blues, and shaped by his time with The Crickets, Sonny Curtis developed a knack for melody and songcraft rooted in the everyday experiences of love, loss, and resilience. contributing to his broad crossover appeal.
Must-Know Songs
- “Love Is All Around” – the history-making theme song from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, written and performed by Curtis
- "I Fought the Law” – written by Curtis, recorded and released by the Bobby Fuller Four in 1965, and reached #9 on the on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later covered by the Clash, Dead Kennedys, Grateful Dead, and Nanci Griffith
- “Walk Right Back” – written by Curtis, recorded and released by the Everly Brothers, peaking at #7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #1 on the UK Singles Chart.
[HEAR THESE SONNY CURTIS TRACKS ON THE PLAINS TRAIL REGIONAL PLAYLIST]
Did You Know?
Sonny Curtis was rumored to be the first rock 'n' roll musician to play a Fender Stratocaster, during Buddy Holly’s first Nashville sessions. In addition to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Curtis is also a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Texas Heritage Songwriters Hall of Fame. He’s also inducted in the West Texas Walk of Fame in Lubbock.