Sonny Curtis, a vintage rock 'n' roller who wrote the raw classic "I Fought the Law" and posed the enduring question "Who can turn the world on with her smile?" as the writer-crooner of the theme song to "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," has died at 88.Curtis, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Crickets in 2012, died Friday, his wife of more than a half-century, Louise Curtis, confirmed to The Associated Press.
A statement from his family on his Facebook page Saturday said that he had become suddenly ill."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," the statement read.The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum also acknowledged Curtis' death."Sonny Curtis was a gentle, humble man who wrote extraordinary songs," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a statement.Curtis wrote or co-wrote hundreds of songs, from Keith Whitley's country smash "I'm No Stranger to the Rain" to the Everly Brothers' "Walk Right Back," a personal favorite Curtis completed while in Army basic training.
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Published: September 20, 2025 5:39 pm
Source: CBS News — Read original