TOUR NOTES BIOGRAPHIES
Sonny Curtis
Known as one of Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Sonny Curtis was also known as one of the "Two Tones" during the Hank Thompson Tour. Born in 1937 in Meadow, Texas, Sonny was a child prodigy living in povery. He learned to play fiddle and guitar as a very young child and played with his brothers at festivals when he was barely ten years old.
Having penned over 500 songs, his first composition, "Rock Around With Ollie Vee", was recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets. His first hit, "Someday" performed by country star Webb Pierce gave Sonny a hit song to his credit while still a teenager!
One of his most famous and memorable hits was the rock anthem, "I Fought the Law" and made stars out of the Bobby Fuller Four in 1965. This song has been covered by punk bands world-wide.
After Buddy’s tragic death in 1959, Sonny played lead guitar for the Everly Brothers and was drafted to the army soon after. While stationed in France, he wrote, "Walk Right Back", recorded by the Everly Brothers. The song topped the charts in the U.S. and England.
After his discharge from the Army, Sonny began to take his musical career seriously and started to study music and songwriting. He went on to not only write music, but he also began writing jingles for McDonald’s, Buick, Mattel Toys, Honda, Bell Telephone, Western Airlines and Olympia Beer. He also wrote the theme song for the Mary Tyler Moore Show “Love is All Around”.
In 1976, Sonny toured steadily with Waylon Jennings as a member of the Crickets. In the early eighties, he released numerous Top 100 Country hits such as “Good Ole Girls”. One of his biggest successes was "I’m No Stranger to the Rain" for the late Keith Whitley. It became the 1989 Single of the Year by The Country Music Association.
His hits "I Fought the Law", "More Than I Can Say" (co-written by J.I. Allison), "Walk Right Back", "The Straight Life" and "I’m No Stranger to the Rain" have logged over a million airplays – over 50,0000 radio hours a piece!
Sonny continues to write and tour and perform with the Crickets. He currently lives in Nashville with his wife, Louise.
Visit the Sonny Curtis website at: www.sonnycurtis.com
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