"Knock Three Times" is a popular song credited simply to "Dawn", obscuring the actual performers.

The first Dawn song "Candida" was produced by Tokens member Hank Medress and his business partner Dave Appell in May 1970.

Medress did not like the sound of the lead singer, and replaced him with his friend Tony Orlando who had already enjoyed limited success singing "Bless You" and "Halfway to Paradise" in 1961.

By 1970, Orlando had abandoned his singing career and was working as an executive at April-Blackwood Music, a subsidiary of Columbia Records.

"Candida" turned out to be a hit song, and Bell asked Orlando to sing another tune anonymously.

[3][4] "Candida" co-writer Irwin Levine joined with Larry Brown to write "Knock Three Times".

Producer Tony Camillo recommended the duo of cousins Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent, who expected only a short employment contract as Dawn.