bio

Sonny Curtis

Biography

Sonny was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, the second of three children. He showed little evidence of early interest in the steel guitar. In fact, he said, "until just before I graduated from high school, I hated the sound of it." But while delivering papers one day, he met a customer who played steel at local dances and the two started talking about the instrument. The friend's name was Bobby Irwin. Bobby began playing records for Sonny by a steel guitarist named Jerry Byrd . Before long, the youngster was accompanying Bobby to dances in order to watch him play. "Frankly, it took listening to the instrument live to capture my interest," Sonny said. "I was fascinated by the use of the bar, the fact that the instrument wasn't fretted, and the player's ability to make the proper notes by positioning the bar."
"I also admired another local steel player whose name was Marshall Looney." ----------->

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Jerry Byrd

When his family asked Sonny what he wanted for graduation, he said a steel guitar. His sister Marjorie happily obliged. Sonny took lessons for a couple of months, but became disgusted because of having to learn by note. He just wanted to get that "Nashville Sound" so he started studying on his own. Becoming discouraged he decided to play the mandolin. Becoming even further discouraged, he turned back to the steel. "When Bud Issacs came along with pedals, I really dug that sound," Sonny recalls.

Bud Isaacs

"Then I heard Buddy Emmons and he became my all time idol." (1960)

It wasn't until two years later that he got his first amp. "I used to wait until everyone went to bed and I would practice in my bedroom. The house was quiet enough for me to hear the guitar sounds." "I didn't have anyone to help me so I set up the guitar and put the tuning on it that later turned out to be inverted to the way everyone else plays. Roger Blevins who then played for Dusty Owens on the Wheeling Jamboree, was the first person to tell me I was playing backwards.

Roger Blevins
(1957)

Sonny playing at
"Possum Holler"
Nashville, Tn. (1968) with
George Jones.

Sonny's first professional job was working with Bobby Bare in a Wellston, Ohio, club. Soon Bobby put out a hit single called "The All American Boy" and left the area to tour. Sonny continued to work local clubs working with Johnny Paycheck (who was then Donny Young). Sonny made a few tapes at a friend's house, one of which landed in the hands of a popular performer named George Jones. George asked Sonny to join the Jones Boys, which consisted of Charley Justice, Don, Gary and Arnie Adams.

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Sonny & Paycheck

George Jones & The Jones Boys.

Sonny, George, Johnny Paycheck, Jerry Starr
and Charlie Justice on the Jimmy Dean Show.

Their first gig was a 1964 Jimmy Dean television show in New York City (ABC). Sonny traveled with George from 1964 until 1969 when he married Tammy Wynette. He then traveled with George & Tammy until 1975.

Sonny on stage
with Tammy.

When George and Tammy divorced, he stayed with Tammy until 1980. During these years with George and Tammy, Sonny's travels took him to all 50 states and 15 foreign countries.

Tammy Wynette & Sonny

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for Biography Page 2

Bobby Whitten, Sonny, James Holley, Tammy, Milton Smith,
Kenny Jansen and Charlie Carter