Buddy Knox was one of the first rockabilly singers and songwriters, best known for his 1957 hit song “Party Doll”. He was also a contemporary and friend of Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison, two of the most influential rock and roll artists of all time. But how did Buddy Knox die and what was his cause of death?
Early Life and Career
Buddy Knox was born on July 20, 1933, in Happy, Texas, a small farming community. He learned to play the guitar and harmonica in his youth, and wrote his first songs, “Hula Love” and “Party Doll”, when he was a teenager. He attended West Texas State College, where he met Jimmy Bowen and Don Lanier, and formed a band called the Serenaders.
In 1955, he saw Elvis Presley perform in Amarillo, Texas, and realized that he was playing the same kind of music that he and his band were playing. He was encouraged by Roy Orbison to record his songs at Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico, the same studio where Buddy Holly recorded his early hits.
In April 1956, the Serenaders recorded “Party Doll” and “I’m Stickin’ With You”, with Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen as lead vocalists, respectively. The session was sponsored by a local oil-man, who pressed 1,500 copies for local stores. The record became a regional hit, and attracted the attention of Morris Levy, the owner of Roulette Records in New York.
Levy decided to release the songs separately, as Buddy Knox and the Rhythm Orchids, and Jimmy Bowen and the Rhythm Orchids. “Party Doll” topped the US charts in March 1957, selling over one million copies and earning a gold disc. “I’m Stickin’ With You” also reached the top 20. Buddy Knox became an overnight sensation, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show and touring with other rock and roll stars.
Military Service and Later Career
However, his success was interrupted by his military service. He was drafted in 1957, just as “Party Doll” reached number one. He missed the opportunity to perform in England and Europe, where his song was also a hit. He also lost contact with his band and his producer, Norman Petty, who focused on Buddy Holly instead.
After his discharge in 1959, he tried to revive his career, but the music scene had changed. He signed with Liberty Records and recorded more mainstream pop songs, such as “Lovey Dovey” and “Ling-Ting-Tong”, which were a departure from his original rockabilly style. He also moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and signed with United Artists Records, where he recorded more country-oriented songs, such as “Gypsy Man” and “Salt Lake City”.
He never achieved the same level of popularity as he did in the 1950s, but he continued to perform and record until the 1980s. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and his song “Party Doll” was voted one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Buddy Knox Cause of Death
In January 1999, Buddy Knox fell and broke his hip. He was taken to a hospital, where the doctors discovered that he had terminal lung cancer. He was given three months to live. He planned to perform one last show in Seattle, but he never made it. He died on February 14, 1999, in Port Orchard, Washington, at the age of 65.
Buddy Knox was one of the pioneers of rockabilly music, and influenced many other artists, such as Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, and the Beatles. He left behind a legacy of songs that are still enjoyed by fans of rock and roll.
