Sonny Curtis dead at 88: Singer-songwriter famously penned The Mary Tyler Moore Show theme and fronted Buddy Holly’s The Crickets

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Singer and songwriter Sonny Curtis died unexpectedly at 88, surrounded by family and friends.

The beloved singer, who entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame more than ten years ago, also wrote the theme song for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was once the lead singer of Buddy Holly’s band, The Crickets.

His daughter Sarah confirmed the news of his death in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Saturday. 

She shared the sad news that her father, Sonny, passed away yesterday after becoming suddenly ill. She was thankful she could be with him and her mother during his final moments, describing the passing as peaceful and without pain.

She fondly remembered his remarkable life, noting that he left a lasting impact on the world and touched the hearts of everyone who knew him.

Today is a day for sorrow, but also for celebrating a remarkable life. Let’s remember him with happiness instead of sadness – that’s what he would have preferred.

Curtis was born in the the city of Meadow, Texas on May 9, 1937 and was the son of cotton farmers. 

He developed a love for music very young, starting with the guitar at just four years old. This interest was sparked by his uncles, who played in a bluegrass band called the Mayfield Brothers.

Starting in the mid-1950s, Curtis teamed up with Buddy Holly, and together they performed as the opening act for popular artists like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley.

Buddy Holly started a band called The Crickets in 1957, and Curtis joined in 1958. After Holly’s death in 1959 at just 22 years old, Curtis became the band’s lead singer and guitarist.

In 1960, the band released an album called In Style With The Crickets, featuring songs like “I Fought The Law,” a track written by Curtis.

The Bobby Fuller Four had a Top 10 hit with the song in 1966. It’s also been recorded by popular bands like The Clash and Green Day.

Curtis once told Classic Rock magazine about writing the song, remembering a very windy day in West Texas with sand blowing around outside.

I grabbed my guitar, and I’m not sure what inspired me, but I suddenly started writing the song ‘I Fought The Law’.

He added that it only took around twenty minutes to write the song. He joked that the lyrics weren’t particularly complex, but emphasized that the copyright was extremely important to him.

Throughout his career, Curtis also wrote popular songs like “Walk Right Back,” famously recorded by The Everly Brothers.

In 1961, the song quickly became a hit, reaching number seven in the U.S. and topping the charts in the U.K.

In 1970, Paul Curtis composed “Love Is All Around,” which later became the iconic theme song for the television show *The Mary Tyler Moore Show*.

Over the years, many artists have recorded their own versions of this song, including Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Sammy Davis Jr.

I remember reading an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis in the Los Angeles Times back in 2017 where she explained the story behind how she ended up writing the theme song. It was really interesting to hear how it all came about!

The deal came together very quickly – all in a single day. A close friend of mine worked at the Williams-Price Agency, which represented Mary Tyler Moore.

The singer recalled that in the summer of 1970, someone called and asked if he’d be interested in writing the theme song for a new sitcom starring Mary Tyler Moore. They were looking for a catchy tune to introduce the show.

Curtis wrote and performed the theme song for James L. Brooks, the show’s executive producer, all within two hours.

He explained that the song gained prominence during the early days of the women’s liberation movement, when figures like Gloria Steinem were becoming influential.

Everyone really connected with that show. It became a defining part of the culture, and the song was a memorable piece of it.

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ran for seven seasons on CBS and was considered a very innovative program for its time.

Moore famously won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the show.

After moving to Los Angeles, Curtis began writing catchy jingles for commercials and also wrote songs that were recorded by artists like Andy Williams.

In 1991, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. 

In 2012, Curtis achieved another significant honor with his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets.

He is survived by his daughter as well as wife of over 50 years named Louise.  

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2025-09-21 05:20