Buddy Knox (1933-1999) was a 1950s rockabilly singer and songwriter from Happy, Texas.
While attending West Texas State College (West Texas A&M) in Canyon, he and several friends performed as the “Serenaders,” playing in the girls’ dorms after curfew! Shortly after, Knox formed his first official band, The Orchids. After meeting Elvis Presley at an Amarillo concert, Presley encouraged The Orchids to record their music. In 1956, they recorded at Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, New Mexico, at the recommendation of fellow West Texas musician, Roy Orbison. Their first hit, “Party Doll,” written by Knox in 1948, shot to the top of the charts in 1957. That same year, the newly renamed Rhythm Orchids were featured on the Ed Sullivan show. Knox and his band went on to release several more hits such as “Rock Your Little Baby to Sleep” and “Hula Love.” In 1970, Knox founded his own record label, Sunny Hill, opened the Purple Steer nightclub, and toured Europe. His last album, Hard Knox and Bobby Sox, was released in 1994.
Buddy Knox was inducted into the West Texas Walk of Fame in 1994.
