Sonny Curtis, Crickets Member and ‘Mary Tyler Moore Show’ Theme Song Writer, Dead at 88

Sonny Curtis, a member of The Crickets and prolific songwriter, has died. He was 88.

Louise Curtis, Curtis’ wife of over 50 years, confirmed his death on Friday, Sept. 19 to the Associated Press. His daughter, Sarah Curtis, posted about his death on his Facebook page on Saturday, Sept. 20.

“I’m heartbroken to tell you that my dad Sonny passed away yesterday after a sudden illness,” she began. “I’m so grateful that I was with him at the end, along with my mom. It was peaceful and he didn’t suffer.”

“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,” his daughter concluded.

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Born in 1937 outside of Meadow, Texas, Curtis was immersed in the music scene early on. His uncles taught him how to play the guitar when he was 4 years old, per The New York Times.

Growing up on a farm, Curtis told the International Songwriters Association that his early songs were written while he was “driving the tractor.” “When you’re doing that, you get plenty of time to think long deep thoughts and so I used to make up these songs while I was working.”

He was a childhood friend of Buddy Holly and had opened for Elvis Presley long before the King of Rock and Roll became a household name. Curtis also played guitar on Holly’s 1957 album That’ll Be the Day.

Curtis joined The Crickets in late 1958 as guitarist and lead vocalist after Holly transitioned over to the business side of music.

In 1970, Curtis was writing commercial jingles when he wrote and performed (both versions of) the iconic theme song for the Emmy Award-winning The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

“I honed in on the part that she was renting an apartment she had a hard time affording,” he said in 2002 of the inspiration for the tune in an interview with CBS Sunday Mornings.

Among his hundreds of songwriting credits are “I Fought the Law,” which has been covered by artists such as Green Day and The Clash, “I’m No Stranger to the Rain” by Keith Whitley and the Everly Brothers’ “Walk Right Back.”

Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bing Crosby, Glen Campbell, and the Grateful Dead are among those who have covered his work.

Later in his career, he recorded several solo albums and performed with members of The Crickets.

Curtis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1991. Over 20 years later in 2012, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets.

The band was honored as “the blueprint for rock and roll bands (that) inspired thousands of kids to start up garage bands around the world.”

Speaking with International Songwriters Association, Curtis reflected on his life in music. “I mean I’ve had my problems, but then I got to do what I liked doing most, and I met some really nice people while I was doing it, and I made some really great friends. Yeah – I’ve enjoyed it.”

Curtis is survived by his wife, daughter, three granddaughters, and his sister Alene Richardson.