Joseph Sonny West (July 30, 1937 – September 8, 2022) was an American songwriter and musician, best known as the co-writer of two of Buddy Holly's biggest hits: "Oh, Boy!"

[3] In 1956 West formed a band with Jimmy Metz (string bass), Doc McKay (drums) and Buddy Smith (guitar).

[4] Bob Kaliff, a disc jockey at KLVT, then arranged for West to re-record the two songs at Norman Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico.

[1] In February 1957, West recorded a song, "All My Love", with McKay (drums), Metz (trumpet), and Glen Dee Hardin (piano).

[3] It was not until 2002 that West's version of "All My Love" was commercially released, when it was included on his debut solo album, Sweet Rockin' Rock-Ola Ruby.

[3] In early 1959, Sonny flew to Phoenix, Arizona, where he recorded two songs, "Love Denied" and "Pretty Little Girl", with Al Casey on guitar.

[1] West sent the tapes to Denver-based Bandbox Records, who had initially offered to finance re-recording the songs, but subsequently changed its mind.

In 2010 Spanish label Sleazy Records released a compilation album, Big City Woman (which included a vinyl reproduction of his first single, "Rock-Ola Ruby" / "Sweet Rockin' Baby").

[16][17][18][19] His songs have been featured in films and television shows, including Quantum Leap, Happy Days, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, Cocktail,[20] Pleasantville,[21] and Glory Road.

A few years later Sonny met and married Dorothy "Dottie" Heikkila (1944–2018), a nurse, she had three children living at home at the time.