Sonny Curtis, Buddy Holly’s Crickets Member and ‘I Fought the Law’ Songwriter, Dies at 88

Sonny Curtis, a celebrated singer-songwriter and guitarist, died at 88 after a sudden illness. Born in Meadow, Texas, he was a longtime member of the Crickets and closely associated with Buddy Holly, joining the band after Holly's death in 1959. Curtis wrote numerous influential songs including "I Fought the Law," which gained fame through covers by the Bobby Fuller Four, the Clash, and others, as well as "Walk Right Back" for the Everly Brothers, and "Love Is All Around," the theme for "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." His songwriting spanned genres and decades, influencing artists such as Keith Whitley, Glen Campbell, Bruce Springsteen, and the Grateful Dead. Curtis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 along with fellow Crickets members. His legacy endures through his extensive catalog of hits and his pivotal role in early rock and roll history.