‘I Fought The Law’ songwriter Sonny Curtis dies aged 88

Sonny Curtis, the singer-songwriter known for his work with Buddy Holly and the Crickets, passed away on September 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. He died from complications from pneumonia, his daughter Sarah Curtis Graziano confirmed.

Born in Meadow, Texas, on May 9, 1937, Curtis rose to fame for iconic songs like 'I Fought The Law' and 'Walk Right Back'.

His musical journey began when a friend introduced him to Buddy Holly, leading to Curtis contributing guitar work on Holly's 1957 album That'll Be the Day.

Soon after, Curtis joined the Crickets, Holly's band, which continued to play together even after Holly’s death in 1959 in a plane crash.

After Holly's short move to New York City in 1959, the band momentarily split. Curtis, who was later drafted into the military, wrote ‘Walk Right Back’, a track that drummer Jerry Allison encouraged him to pitch to The Everly Brothers. The song became a hit, reaching the Billboard Top 10.

In 1960, the Crickets released In Style with the Crickets, featuring two of Curtis’ best known songs, ‘I Fought The Law’ and ‘More Than I Can Say’.

‘I Fought The Law’ has since been covered by artists such as Bruce Springsteen, the Clash, Green Day, the Ramones, Dead Kennedys, and Bryan Adams, among others.

The Crickets played together on and off throughout the 1980s and in 2012, Curtis got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band.

Through the rest of his career, Curtis released solo projects along with periodically recording with the Crickets. The singer wrote the theme song of The Mary Tyler Moore Show, ‘Love Is All Around’.

Curtis is survived by his wife, Louise Halverson, daughter Sarah Curtis Graziano, three granddaughters, and his sister Alene Richardson.