‘I Fought The Law’ songwriter and the Crickets member Sonny Curtis dead at 86
Buddy Holly and the Crickets member Sonny Curtis has died aged 88 following a brief illness.
Curtis’ death was confirmed by his daughter, Sarah, who took to Facebook to share the sad news, writing, “I’m heartbroken to tell you that my dad Sonny passed away yesterday after a sudden illness. I’m so grateful that I was with him at the end, along with my mom. It was peaceful and he didn’t suffer.”
Sarah continued, “He was 88 and he lived a more exceptional life than anyone I’d ever met. He made a mark on this world, and he made a mark on the hearts of all who knew him. It’s a sad day, but what a life. May we look at his life with joy rather than sadness. He would have wanted that.”
Curtis’ career truly started in 1955 when he began to play with Buddy Holly, both as a member of his live band and in the studio on his early records, before becoming a permanent fixture in 1958. He remained part of the Crickets following Holly’s death in 1959 for several years, including a period as their lead vocalist.
His most prominent contribution to rock ‘n’ roll came during his time in the Crickets when he penned ‘I Fought The Law‘, which also became a hit for the Bobby Fuller Four before The Clash made it their own with one of the all-time great covers.
Curtis once told the Austin Chronicle of writing the song, “The song came quick. I was in the living room, in Slaton, Texas, where I lived at the time. It was one of those West Texas afternoons where the sand was blowing, those days you have in the spring. Probably March 1958. I wrote it in 15 minutes – bam! If you listen to it, you can tell you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to write those lyrics.”
The prolific songwriter also penned tracks for esteemed artists including Glen Campbell, Leo Sayer and the Everly Brothers.
His most successful hit was ‘Love Is All Around’, which served as the theme song to the beloved sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which was later covered by Joan Jett and Sammy Davis Jr.
Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991, and as a member of the Crickets, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007.
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