Sonny Curtis — the songwriter finest recognized for The Mary Tyler Moore Present theme track and the frontman for Buddy Holly‘s band The Crickets — is lifeless at 88.
On Saturday, September 20, Sonny’s daughter, Sarah, introduced her father’s demise in a Fb submit. “I’m heartbroken to inform you that my dad Sonny handed away yesterday after a sudden sickness,” she wrote. “I’m so grateful that I used to be with him on the finish, together with my mother. It was peaceable and he didn’t undergo.”
Within the demise announcement, Sarah continued, “He was 88 and he lived a extra distinctive life than anybody 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 tragic day, however what a life. Could we take a look at his life with pleasure somewhat than unhappiness. He would have needed that.”
Fb customers flooded the feedback with condolences and tributes to Sonny.
One fan recounted, “He was a songwriting hero of mine. I solely met him as soon as, and solely briefly, about 20 years in the past, however he — amazingly — stopped to speak to me as he was on his method to the stage to carry out with the Crickets, backstage on the Rock ‘n’ Roll Corridor of Fame’s tribute to Roy Orbison in Cleveland, the place an viewers of about 2,000 individuals was ready for him. I requested him if I might interview him someday and he gave me his card and took a minute to speak to me. Then he smiled and pointed to the stage and mentioned, ‘I’ve bought to go on the market.’ I don’t assume many different artists would have even stopped, in that scenario, not to mention been so well mannered about it.”
One other fan shared, “A fantastic musician and singer, and my all-time favorite rockabilly guitarist. Attempting to repeat Sonny’s solos on Midnight Shift and Rock Round With Ollie Vee was what bought me into taking part in lead guitar. I shall be eternally grateful. RIP Sonny. x”
Another person commented, “My condolences to you and your loved ones. Your dad was an unimaginable songwriter and storyteller. He introduced loads of pleasure to the world together with his phrases! Could he relaxation in peace.”
In the meantime, yet one more Fb person wrote, “So sorry in your loss, Sarah. Your dad was genuinely the nicest particular person. So grateful my dad and our households had been capable of meet so many occasions. Recollections for a lifetime. My prayers exit to you and your mother and household. Could he relaxation in peace.“
In 1957, Holly fashioned the band The Crickets. Sonny joined the next 12 months, changing into the lead guitarist and vocalist in 1959 after Holly died.
Sonny wrote “Love Is All Round” in 1970, and it grew to become the theme track for The Mary Tyler Moore Present, which aired for seven seasons on CBS.
“It was a deal that occurred all in someday. I had an excellent buddy who labored for the Williams-Worth Company, they usually managed Mary Tyler Moore,” Sonny advised the Los Angeles Occasions in 2017.
He added, “He referred to as me one morning in the summertime of 1970 and requested me if I might be desirous about writing a track for Mary Tyler Moore. He mentioned they’re going to do a sitcom on her they usually all want a theme track.”
Sonny mentioned he wrote “Love Is All Round” in simply two hours.
Of the track’s affect, Sonny identified, “And that was firstly of the ladies’s liberation motion and Gloria Steinem and all these individuals had been approaching fairly sturdy.” He continued, “I believe all of them recognized with that present. It was form of a cultural touchstone, and the track was part of that.”
In 1991, Sonny was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Corridor of Fame. He was additionally inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame as a part of The Crickets in 2012.
Sonny is survived by his spouse, Louise, along with his daughter, Sarah.