Sonny Curtis

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 11 Oct 2019 1:41 pm

Bad news folks , my long time friend Sonny Curtis passed away this morning . Played Steel Guitar for George Jones and Tammy Wynette, for many years . He and Barbara lives in Sommerset Ky . This is all I know at this time . Will post more when I get updated .

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 11 Oct 2019 2:03 pm

Barbara just called me , Sonnys lung collapsed and had a hard time breathing . Looks like he won’t be brought back to Ohio . She said he would be cremated in Ky . May have a memorial service .

Gary Preston · Post by **Gary Preston** » 11 Oct 2019 2:04 pm

Barbara just called me , Sonnys lung collapsed and had a hard time breathing . Looks like he won’t be brought back to Ohio . She said he would be cremated in Ky . May have a memorial service .

john buffington · Post by **john buffington** » 11 Oct 2019 2:13 pm

This breaks my heart. Sonny Curtis was one of my very first influences in the pedal steel guitar. We've remained friends for over 50 years. It is a shame he was never inducted into the HOF, he was so very deserving and a giant in history of the steel guitar world. Many never knew some of his historical background and now . . . . never will. My deepest sympathies to Rick his son and Barbara and their families.

Terry Wood · Post by **Terry Wood** » 11 Oct 2019 3:10 pm

Sorry to hear this! I always liked Sonny Curtis! He was a Great Steel Guitarist and such a nice man. We had talked about booking him on one of my Steel Guitar Shows but never got things worked out where he could travel here to do that. Prayers for his family and his many friends!

Dustin Rigsby · Post by **Dustin Rigsby** » 11 Oct 2019 3:15 pm

This is a sad day for me. Sonny was a guitar hero as well as a pal. I’ll miss him greatly. I’ll never forget him teaching me the intro and steel break to A-11 and his funny road stories. Certainly a player and a gentleman worthy of notice.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 11 Oct 2019 3:20 pm

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 11 Oct 2019 5:00 pm

Another of our heroes and legends moves to higher ground. I admired Sonny and wanted to see him play at one of steel shows but never got the chance. God bless Sonny and his family.

John Booth · Post by **John Booth** » 11 Oct 2019 5:30 pm

Sonny was a wonderful man, always willing to share what he knew.
I loved his stories of the road back when country was still real country.
I am also good friends with his son Rick and I offer my deepest sympathy.
Rest peacefully brother.

George Buechley · Post by **George Buechley** » 11 Oct 2019 7:06 pm

Sad day. Sonny will be missed. What a great steel player.

George

Lyle Bradford · Post by **Lyle Bradford** » 11 Oct 2019 7:34 pm

Sad when I first started I went in his shop and he gave me some white finger picks that were awesome but never could get them anymore. He was very kind and patient to one who just had tons of questions never forgot him!! God speed Bro. and prayers for the family!!!

Jim Cooley · Post by **Jim Cooley** » 12 Oct 2019 5:45 am

Bob Cox · Post by **Bob Cox** » 12 Oct 2019 5:50 am

Go rest high my friend. You have just entered the real Hall of Fame! God bless your family and all your friends you have made during your journey through life. We will all miss you!

JERRY THURMOND · Post by **JERRY THURMOND** » 12 Oct 2019 6:46 am

I had a Night Club Back in the mid 80's Sonny came in,he said he used a different tuning on his guitar, how ever he sit down behind mine, he played very good, I think he was on his way to AR to play a gig. He was a nice person an I was always glad that I got to meet him.

Annette Wheeler · Post by **Annette Wheeler** » 12 Oct 2019 7:57 am

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 12 Oct 2019 8:33 am

Is that Sonny on the left in the second picture below?

Both likely from around 1955-56.

J R Rose · Post by **J R Rose** » 12 Oct 2019 4:45 pm

Thank You Annette for the pictures. So sorry to here this bad news.
Sonny was a great picker and good guy. J.R.

Steven Black · Post by **Steven Black** » 12 Oct 2019 8:30 pm

I feel so sad, my music teacher and long time friend is gone, he sold me my first beginner steel guitar a Sho-Bud Maverick and there my journey began with the steel guitar, but it did begin earlier, because my dad and Sonny Curtis encouraged me, my father was a steel guitarist also he played at the wheeling jamboree back in the fifties where he met Sonny Curtis I think Sonny played a fender string master and my dad played an old national double, he went off to Korea and played on military bases with well named performers, my dad bought a vegan double 8 with one pedal. Webb Pierce was the sound everyone wanted to hear, my dad came home and played in bars around town and picked up the wheeling jamboree but the guitar got heavy to carry he through his back out and had to quit, Sonny carried on and was on board with George Jones.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 12 Oct 2019 10:57 pm

That is sad news indeed. It was always a pleasure to listen to the great GJ recordings from that era.

RIP Sonny.

Walter Stettner
Vienna, Austria

Daryll LeCroy · Post by **Daryll LeCroy** » 13 Oct 2019 12:11 am

RIP Sonny, his daughter is a dear friend of mine.
https://youtu.be/aQPYO01e7FQ?t=59
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nw7jIaRDgA

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 13 Oct 2019 3:40 am

I hate to hear this. I was the one that took his place with Tammy. Whenever we spent time together he was always gracious, but I could tell he had a hurt when we were together. I always had a twinge of guilt. He was a terrific guy and a great player. Hate to hear of his passing.

John Brabant · Post by **John Brabant** » 13 Oct 2019 3:48 pm

Very sad news. Am a big fan of Sonny. RIP Sonny.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 14 Oct 2019 6:26 am

I recall seeing Sonny play at one of LT and Evelyn's steel guitar shows in Grand Rapids. He was loud and proud playing a Clark thru two Randalls. Wow, what a sound! RIP

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 14 Oct 2019 7:19 am

When I wanted to start playing steel I sent a letter to Sonny asking about ZB guitars, he told me to pull the trigger AND he had a volume pedal he was producing. I bought the guitar and pedal, used the pedal for maybe 25 years.

Met him once, wish it could have been more.

So sorry to hear about this.

Roy Heap · Post by **Roy Heap** » 14 Oct 2019 7:19 am

Really very sad news, Sonny was another legend of the steel guitar. RIP Sonny.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Sonny Curtis

Sonny Curtis

Sonny

Sonny

Sonney

Some pictures of Sonny at the OSGA Jams in Columbus

Sonny Curtis