Source: Portland Press Herald Curran, who played with Texas rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson, died Saturday after a three-year battle with oral cancer. Nick Curran, a nationally known guitarist and singer from Sanford who played with the Texas rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson, the Fabulous Thunderbirds and numerous other bands, died Saturday after a three-year battle with oral cancer. He was 35. Curran, who was known for blending punk, blues and rockabilly, was a frequent performer in Portland but spent much of his career in the Austin, Texas, area. Curran grew up in Sanford and started playing drums when he was 3 years old. By the time he was 9, he was learning to play the guitar. As a teenager, Curran played with his father's band, Mike Curran & the Tremors. He entered Portland's music scene with talent beyond his years. He made a big impression on Maine musicians such as Matthew Robbins, a guitarist and vocalist for King Memphis. Robbins remembers the days when Curran would stand outside Gritty McDuff's in Portland and peer through the window to watch Robbins' band play. "He was young and extremely talented," Robbins said. "Nick was like a sponge. He could see someone play something and play it right back. He was pretty amazing." Curran was a regular at The Big Easy in Portland during its popular open mike nights. Jimmy Junkins, lead singer and guitarist for Jimmy Junkins and the Soulcats, said he would sneak Curran into the bar and get him up on [...]