Sonny Curtis
Updated: 12/11/2025, 2:18:12 PM Wikipedia source
Sonny Curtis (May 9, 1937 – September 19, 2025) was an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of the Crickets and continued with the band after Holly's death in 1959. He is a member of three music Halls of Fame including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Curtis's best known compositions include "Walk Right Back", a major hit in 1961 for the Everly Brothers; "I Fought the Law", notably covered by the Bobby Fuller Four, the Clash, and Green Day; "Love is All Around", the theme song for The Mary Tyler Moore Show; "More Than I Can Say", co-written with The Crickets' drummer Jerry Allison and a hit for Leo Sayer in 1980, and "I'm No Stranger to the Rain", a No. 1 Country hit for Keith Whitley in 1989.
Infobox
Born
(1937-05-09)May 9, 1937Meadow, Texas, U.S.
Died
September 19, 2025(2025-09-19) (aged 88)Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
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Occupation
Singer-songwriter
Instruments
Guitarvocals
Years active
1955–2025
Formerly of
The Crickets
Spouse
mw- Louise Halverson (m. 1970)
Tables
· Discography › Albums
1964
1964
Year
1964
Album
Beatle Hits Flamenco Style Guitar
US Country
—
Label
El Records
1968
1968
Year
1968
Album
The 1st of Sonny Curtis
US Country
21
Label
Viva
1969
1969
Year
1969
Album
The Sonny Curtis Style
US Country
—
Label
Elektra
1979
1979
Year
1979
Album
Sonny Curtis
US Country
—
1980
1980
Year
1980
Album
Love Is All Around
US Country
—
1981
1981
Year
1981
Album
Rollin'
US Country
—
1987
1987
Year
1987
Album
Spectrum
US Country
—
Label
Nightlite
1990
1990
Year
1990
Album
No Stranger To The Rain
US Country
—
Label
Ritz Records
2007
2007
Year
2007
Album
Sonny Curtis
US Country
—
| Year | Album | US Country | Label |
| 1964 | Beatle Hits Flamenco Style Guitar | — | El Records |
| 1968 | The 1st of Sonny Curtis | 21 | Viva |
| 1969 | The Sonny Curtis Style | — | Elektra |
| 1979 | Sonny Curtis | — | |
| 1980 | Love Is All Around | — | |
| 1981 | Rollin' | — | |
| 1987 | Spectrum | — | Nightlite |
| 1990 | No Stranger To The Rain | — | Ritz Records |
| 2007 | Sonny Curtis | — |
· Discography › Singles
US Country
US Country
Year
US Country
Single
US
Chart Positions
Canada Country
1964
1964
Year
1964
Single
"A Beatle I Want to Be"b/w "A Pretty Girl"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1966
1966
Year
1966
Single
"My Way of Life"b/w "Last Call"
Chart Positions
49
Chart Positions
134
Chart Positions
—
Album
The 1st of Sonny Curtis
"Destiny's Child"b/w "The Collector"
"Destiny's Child"b/w "The Collector"
Year
"Destiny's Child"b/w "The Collector"
Single
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1967
1967
Year
1967
Single
"I Wanna Go Bummin' Around"b/w "I'm a Gypsy Man"
Chart Positions
50
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1968
1968
Year
1968
Single
"Atlanta Georgia Stray"b/w "Day Drinker"
Chart Positions
36
Chart Positions
120
Chart Positions
—
Album
The Sonny Curtis Style
"The Straight Life"b/w "How Little Men Care"
"The Straight Life"b/w "How Little Men Care"
Year
"The Straight Life"b/w "How Little Men Care"
Single
45
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1970
1970
Year
1970
Single
"Love Is All Around"b/w "Here, There and Everywhere"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
single only
1971
1971
Year
1971
Single
"Day Gig"b/w "Holiday for Clowns"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
The Sonny Curtis Style
"Hung Up in Your Eyes"b/w "Girl of the North"
"Hung Up in Your Eyes"b/w "Girl of the North"
Year
"Hung Up in Your Eyes"b/w "Girl of the North"
Single
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1972
1972
Year
1972
Single
"Lights of L.A."b/w "Sunny Mornin'"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
singles only
1973
1973
Year
1973
Single
"Rock'n Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)"b/w "My Momma Sure Left Me Some Good Old Days"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1974
1974
Year
1974
Single
"Unsaintly Judy"b/w "You Don't Belong in This Place"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1975
1975
Year
1975
Single
"Lovesick Blues"b/w "It's Only a Question of Time"
Chart Positions
78
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1976
1976
Year
1976
Single
"Where's Patricia Now"b/w "It's Only a Question of Time"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
"Where's Patricia Now"b/w "When It's Just You and Me"
"Where's Patricia Now"b/w "When It's Just You and Me"
Year
"Where's Patricia Now"b/w "When It's Just You and Me"
Single
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1979
1979
Year
1979
Single
"The Cowboy Singer"b/w "Cheatin' Clouds"
Chart Positions
77
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
Sonny Curtis
1980
1980
Year
1980
Single
"Do You Remember Roll Over Beethoven"b/w "Walk Right Back"
Chart Positions
86
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
"The Real Buddy Holly Story"b/w "Ain't Nobody Honest"
"The Real Buddy Holly Story"b/w "Ain't Nobody Honest"
Year
"The Real Buddy Holly Story"b/w "Ain't Nobody Honest"
Single
38
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
20
Chart Positions
Love Is All Around
"Love Is All Around"b/w "The Clone Song"
"Love Is All Around"b/w "The Clone Song"
Year
"Love Is All Around"b/w "The Clone Song"
Single
29
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
"You Made My Life a Song"b/w "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
"You Made My Life a Song"b/w "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
Year
"You Made My Life a Song"b/w "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
Single
70
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1981
1981
Year
1981
Single
"Good Ol' Girls"b/w "So Used to Loving You"
Chart Positions
15
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
Rollin'
"Married Women"b/w "I Live Your Music"
"Married Women"b/w "I Live Your Music"
Year
"Married Women"b/w "I Live Your Music"
Single
33
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
1985
1985
Year
1985
Single
"I Think I'm in Love"b/w "There's a Whole Lot Less to Me Than Meets the Eye"
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
Album
singles only
1986
1986
Year
1986
Single
"Now I've Got a Heart of Gold"
Chart Positions
69
Chart Positions
—
Chart Positions
—
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | ||
| US Country | US | Canada Country | |||
| 1964 | "A Beatle I Want to Be"b/w "A Pretty Girl" | — | — | — | |
| 1966 | "My Way of Life"b/w "Last Call" | 49 | 134 | — | The 1st of Sonny Curtis |
| "Destiny's Child"b/w "The Collector" | — | — | — | ||
| 1967 | "I Wanna Go Bummin' Around"b/w "I'm a Gypsy Man" | 50 | — | — | |
| 1968 | "Atlanta Georgia Stray"b/w "Day Drinker" | 36 | 120 | — | The Sonny Curtis Style |
| "The Straight Life"b/w "How Little Men Care" | 45 | — | — | ||
| 1970 | "Love Is All Around"b/w "Here, There and Everywhere" | — | — | — | single only |
| 1971 | "Day Gig"b/w "Holiday for Clowns" | — | — | — | The Sonny Curtis Style |
| "Hung Up in Your Eyes"b/w "Girl of the North" | — | — | — | ||
| 1972 | "Lights of L.A."b/w "Sunny Mornin | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1973 | "Rock'n Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)"b/w "My Momma Sure Left Me Some Good Old Days" | — | — | — | |
| 1974 | "Unsaintly Judy"b/w "You Don't Belong in This Place" | — | — | — | |
| 1975 | "Lovesick Blues"b/w "It's Only a Question of Time" | 78 | — | — | |
| 1976 | "Where's Patricia Now"b/w "It's Only a Question of Time" | — | — | — | |
| "Where's Patricia Now"b/w "When It's Just You and Me" | — | — | — | ||
| 1979 | "The Cowboy Singer"b/w "Cheatin' Clouds" | 77 | — | — | Sonny Curtis |
| 1980 | "Do You Remember Roll Over Beethoven"b/w "Walk Right Back" | 86 | — | — | |
| "The Real Buddy Holly Story"b/w "Ain't Nobody Honest" | 38 | — | 20 | Love Is All Around | |
| "Love Is All Around"b/w "The Clone Song" | 29 | — | — | ||
| "You Made My Life a Song"b/w "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" | 70 | — | — | ||
| 1981 | "Good Ol' Girls"b/w "So Used to Loving You" | 15 | — | — | Rollin' |
| "Married Women"b/w "I Live Your Music" | 33 | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "I Think I'm in Love"b/w "There's a Whole Lot Less to Me Than Meets the Eye" | — | — | — | singles only |
| 1986 | "Now I've Got a Heart of Gold" | 69 | — | — | |
References
- The Guinness Who's Who of Country Musichttps://archive.org/details/guinnesswhoswhoo0000unse/page/102/mode/2up?q=%22Curtis+sonny%22+meadow
- theguardian.comhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/25/sonny-curtis-obituary
- CBC Newshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/sonny-curtis-obituary-1.7639407
- Expresshttps://www.express.co.uk/celebrity-news/2111274/sonny-curtis-dead-beloved-60s
- Vancouver Signature Soundshttps://vancouversignaturesounds.com/hits/beatle-want-sonny-curtis/
- CBS Newshttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/sonny-curtis-who-wrote-the-mary-tyler-moore-show-theme-song-dies-88/
- Geniushttps://genius.com/The-crickets-i-fought-the-law-sample/covers
- IMDb.comhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0193510
- Second Hand Songshttps://secondhandsongs.com/performance/2910/versions
- "Andy Williams, "A Fool Never Learns" chart positions"http://www.musicvf.com/song.php?id=2419
- AllMusichttps://www.allmusic.com/album/annie-mw0000866916#awards
- Nashville Songwriters Foundationhttps://nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/Site/inductee?entry_id=3233
- Rolling Stonehttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sonny-curtis-crickets-member-i-fought-the-law-dead-obit-1235431839/
- "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Adds Six Backing Groups to the Class of 2012"https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-adds-six-backing-groups-to-the-class-of-2012-77581/
- Grunge.comhttps://www.grunge.com/424482/why-the-beatles-wouldnt-have-existed-without-buddy-hollys-band/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/21/arts/music/sonny-curtis-dead.html
- Daughter of a Song - a memoirhttps://www.ttupress.org/9781682832745/daughter-of-a-song/
- "Sonny Curtis, Member of Buddy Holly's Crickets & 'I Fought the Law' Writer, Dies"https://bestclassicbands.com/sonny-curtis-buddy-holly-crickets-obituary-i-fought-the-law-9-20-25/
- Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008