Buddy Lee Charleton was born on March 6, 1938 in new Market, Virginia. After working with local bands for a while, his remarkable talent was noted by a member of Ernest Tubb's Texas Troubadours when they were playing in the area. It was the time when Buddy Emmons thought about leaving the Troubadours, so finally Buddy Charleton got his chance to become a Texas Troubadour.

According to his own statement, one of the most difficult moments in his career was the first night with the Troubadours when somebody in the crowd said "Hey, that's not Buddy Emmons!". Nevertheless Buddy jumped at the chance and became one of the key musicians in the band. His tasteful Country backing as well as his incredible Jazz and Swing arrangements (together with Guitarists Leon Rhodes, Steve Chapman and Pete Mitchell) are timeless classics.

Tired of living on and off the road, Buddy left the Texas Troubadours in 1974, but still maintained his extraordinary ability as one of the true stylists of the Pedal Steel Guitar.

In 1974, Buddy was inducted as a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and taught steel guitar at Billy Cooper's Music, in Orange, Virginia until he passed away on January 25, 2011.