Sonny Curtis, Writer of 'I Fought the Law', Dies at 88

Legendary Songwriter and Musician Passes Away in Nashville

Sonny Curtis, the acclaimed American musician and songwriter best known for penning the iconic rock anthem "I Fought the Law," has died at age 88 in his Nashville home. Curtis was a pivotal figure in early rock 'n' roll, having played guitar alongside Buddy Holly and contributed to numerous classic compositions that shaped popular music.

Early Years and Buddy Holly Connection

Born in Texas, Curtis grew up with Buddy Holly, forming a musical partnership that would define both their careers. The two young musicians would spend hours trying to pick up distant radio stations on their car radio to hear blues and other "black music" that wasn't available in their hometown of Lubbock. "We didn't have that kind of music in Lubbock," Curtis once recalled about their musical explorations.

Curtis initially played lead guitar in their shared band The Crickets, but left shortly before Holly's breakthrough with "That'll Be the Day." Curtis had played rhythm guitar on an early version of the song, though a different recording became the hit single.

The Creation of a Rock Anthem

After Holly's tragic death in a 1959 plane crash, Curtis returned to The Crickets and wrote "I Fought the Law," a song about a criminal reflecting on his failed crimes while breaking stones in prison. The song's memorable line "the law won" became instantly recognizable. Curtis explained that the song wasn't based on personal experience: "It wasn't like I was breaking the law or anything, we didn't do things like that."

The song became a hit when recorded by Bobby Fuller a few years later, but it was The Clash's 1979 cover that made it a worldwide phenomenon. The British punk band discovered the song in a San Francisco jukebox and created their own version with driving drums and sharp guitars, which became their first US single.

Musical Legacy and Recognition

Curtis appreciated The Clash's interpretation, calling it "a fantastic version... alive and kicking." Other notable covers included The Dead Kennedys' alternative version with different lyrics. Beyond "I Fought the Law," Curtis wrote "Love Is All Around," which became the famous theme song for The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Artists including Bing Crosby, Bruce Springsteen, and the Grateful Dead recorded his compositions.

In 2012, Curtis was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Crickets, recognized as "an inspiration for all the garage bands of thousands of kids around the world." His contributions to American music spanned decades and influenced generations of musicians.

According to Wikipedia, "I Fought the Law" was ranked No. 175 on Rolling Stone's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and was named one of the 500 "Songs that Shaped Rock" by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.