Song:Hula Love
Album:The Best Of Buddy Knox
Buddy Knox was very similar to Buddy Holly. Both were from Texas. Both wrote their own songs. Holly is more memorable because of the quantity of great songs. But Knox did have a couple of big hits including Hula Love and he predated Holly. He was born July 20, 1933 in Happy, TX. He grew up singing in the family gospel group and learned to play guitar. While attending West Texas State College, he sang in a group called The Serenaders with bassist Jimmy Bowen and guitarist Donny Lanier. They renamed themselves The Rhythm Orchids because they wore purple shirts on stage and added drummer Don Mills. They met Roy Orbison who suggested they go to New Mexico and record with producer Norman Petty. Dave Alldred replaced Mills and they paid Petty $60 to record three songs including Hula Love & Party Doll. Of course Petty would go on to produce Buddy Holly. Eventually the songs were licensed to Roulette Records. Roulette released an album with Knox songs on one side and Jimmy Bowen songs on the other side. Hula Love reaqched #9 on the pop singles chart and Party Doll reached #1. Bowen's music wasn't successful but he would go on to be a record executive for MCA Records in Nashville. Knox's success was short lived because he left Roulette for Liberty in 1960. Snuff Garrett tried to produce him as more of a pop singer like Bobby Vee and it didn't work. Buddy Knox would transition to country music in the 60s and moved to Vancouver in 1969 and opened The Purple Steer club. He would continue to tour until his death on Feb. 5, 1999 at age 65. This Rhino comp is definitive. Here's Buddy Knox performing Hula Love in the 1957 film Jamboree.
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