More Info on Billy CoxSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
For|the American baseball player|Billy Cox (baseball)Infobox musical artist|image=Billy cox.JPG| |name = Billy Cox|image_size = 220px|background = non_vocal_instrumentalist|birth_name = William Cox|alias =|birth_date = birth date and age|1941|10|18|birth_place = Wheeling, West Virginia , United States|USA |death_date =|origin =|instrument = Bass guitar , Singing|vocals |genre = Rock music|Rock , psychedelic rock , hard rock , R& B , blues rock , heavy metal music|heavy metal |occupation = Musician|years_active = 1961–present|label = Reprise Records|Reprise , Legacy Recordings|Legacy , Capitol Records|Capitol , MCA Records|MCA , Sony Records|Sony , Dagger Records|Dagger , Pye Records|Pye , Polydor Records|Polydor |associated_acts = Band of Gypsys , Jimi Hendrix , Gypsy Sun and Rainbows , The Jimi Hendrix Experience , Gypsy Sun Experience , Buddy Miles , The Charlie Daniels Band , Johnny Jones and the King Casuals|The King Casuals , J.J. Cale , Gov't Mule , New Band of Gypsys|website = http://bassistbillycox.com/ bassistbillycox.com|notable_instruments = Fender Telecaster Bass , Fender Precision Bass William "Billy" Cox (born October 18, 1941) is an American bass guitar|bass ist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix . As of November 2008, Billy is the only surviving member of both The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Band Of Gypsys . He recently was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame and continues to honor his friend, performing dates with the Experience Hendrix Tour.
Early years
Born in Wheeling, West Virginia , Cox was raised in Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Schenley High School .Cite news |first=Scott |last=Mervis |title=How the Year Rocked: The 10 biggest stories on the local music front |date=December 16, 2010 |newspaper= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10350/1110946-388.stm |accessdate=December 16, 2010 Billy Cox met Jimi Hendrix when they were serving in the Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1961. Ducking into Service Club #1 to get out of a sudden rainstorm, he heard guitar playing inside. Impressed with what he heard, he introduced himself, told Jimi he played bass, and they were jamming soon after. They became, and remained, fast friends. They left the military around the same time and they played clubs around the area, finally settling in Nashville. They formed a group now known to history as the King Kasuals. They played at Nashville clubs and traveled all over the southeast and as far north as Indianapolis playing what was called the " Chitlin' Circuit ". Jimi eventually left Nashville and continued to struggle all over the country until he was discovered by Chas Chandler in New York. Chas took Jimi to England, (and the rest is history) but before Jimi left, he called Billy and asked him to join him. Billy (in his own words) "Only had three strings on my bass" and no money to travel to New York, so he thanked Jimi and wished him well. Between 1962 and 1968 the musical experience and expertise of Billy Cox began its ascension. Billy played bass on the television programs, “The Beat” from Dallas, Texas and Nashville’s “Night Train.” Billy worked closely with Hoss Allen and John Richbourg of WLAC Radio. Indeed, Billy Cox has played behind some great ones. He has either been a member of the house or touring band or recording session, as he played behind music legends such as: From the never hurry and ever mellow Sam Cooke to a messenger of the blues, Slim Harpo; from the cool and crisp sound of Joe Simon to the Pied Piper of grateful ears, Charlie Daniels; from the grandfather of R& B funk, Rufus Thomas to his daughter, the sultry-bluesy R & B artist, Carla Thomas; From THE VOICE, Lou Rawls to a blues royal Etta James ; from the always ready to “work it out,” Jackie Wilson to the proclaimed King of Rock-n-Roll, Little Richard . In 1969, the Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up and Jimi then called his old friend Billy who joined him. Billy went on to play at Woodstock and played a series of shows with Jimi and Buddy Miles as the Band of Gypsys and later with Jimi and Mitch Mitchell in the reformed Experience.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience & Band of Gypsys
They re-united musically in 1969, when Hendrix called on Cox to play bass in the Band of Gypsys .
In addition to the Band of Gypsys release, Cox's bass playing can be heard on such posthumously released Hendrix albums as South Saturn Delta , Live at Woodstock , Live at the Fillmore East , Nine to the Universe , and a reconstructed version of First Rays of the New Rising Sun , in addition to such home-videos as Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 , Live at Woodstock , The Dick Cavett Show , Rainbow Bridge (album)|Rainbow Bridge , and Jimi Hendrix .
Cox played at Woodstock with Hendrix's Gypsy Sun and Rainbows; On September 8, 2006, Cox mentioned in an interview on the KQRS-FM morning show that he can be heard playing bass on five of the first notes of Jimi Hendrix's famous Woodstock "Star Spangled Banner". The rendition was completely impromptu according to him. He said he thought to himself at the moment, "I realized we had not rehearsed this, I had better lay off." He toured with Hendrix (with Mitch Mitchell on drums) for most of 1970 on the Cry of Love tour. Cox lives in Nashville, Tennessee , where he remains active in music, and acts as an ambassador for Jimi Hendrix, his music and philosophy.
After Hendrix's Death
1970s–1980s
In 1971, Cox released his album Nitro Function with Char Vinnedge (from Luv'd Ones ) and Robert Tarrant. Cox played with others, including the Charlie Daniels Band , as well as session work and live dates. Throughout the '70s and '80s, Cox would continue to be a part of Jimi's music as posthumous releases continued to pour out.
1990s
In 1995, Cox along with Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding and Buddy Miles began participating in Jimi Hendrix tributes and tours. In 1999, Cox appeared on the late Bruce Cameron (guitarist)|Bruce Cameron 's album, Midnight Daydream , that included other Hendrix alumni Mitch Mitchell and Buddy Miles along with Jack Bruce and others. Cox has also performed some dates along with Mitch Mitchell and guitarist Gary Serkin with a Hendrix-tribute outfit called the Gypsy Sun Experience .cite web|title=All Music.com biography of Billy Cox|publisher=Allmusicguide.com|accessdate=2006-04-26|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p67012/biography|pure_url=yes
Cox worked on First Rays of the New Rising Sun , Hendrix's fourth studio album, which was cut off by Hendrix's death. Cox has also been known to guest speak at University level music seminars. In this capacity he has been helpful to the aspiring musicians by spending time with them in discussion and demonstration sessions. This spirit of sharing and helping other musicians is similar to his former bandleader Hendrix's vision of providing musicians with a no-pressure (including cost breaks if needed) recording environment in the now legendary Electric Lady studios located in Greenwich Village, NYC.
2000s
In 2004, Buddy Miles reunited yet again with Cox of the Band of Gypsys to re-record songs from the original live album of 1970 with guitarists Eric Gales , Kenny Olsen , Sheldon Reynolds (guitarist)|Sheldon Reynolds , Andy Aledort , and Gary Serkin . The album, titled The Band Of Gypsys Return , was released in 2006.
As of November 12, 2008, he is the only surviving member of both The Jimi Hendrix Experience and the Band Of Gypsys. On Monday, October 12, 2009, Cox was inducted into Musician's Hall of Fame in ceremonies held at The Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He currently plays with the Experience Hendrix, a semi-regular touring Hendrix tribute band featuring top guitarists and former Hendrix collaborators. Billy's solo album Last Gypsy Standing was released in 2009.
2010s
Today Billy Cox owns a video production company. He has produced numerous blues and a myriad of gospel shows. He co-authored the books, Jimi Hendrix Sessions and Ultimate Hendrix with John McDermott and Eddie Kramer . Billy has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors among which: In 2009 Billy Cox was inducted into The Musicians Hall Of Fame; Billy received The Founders Award in 2010. It was given by Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen and in 2011 Billy was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall Of Fame. Billy released his latest album, Old School Blue Blues in 2011. In November 2011, Billy assembled his New Band of Gypsys, featuring himself on bass and vocals, Byron Bordeaux on guitar and vocals, Vincent Fults on guitar and vocals and Gary Skipper on drums. Billy also continues to tour to "The Experience Hendrix Tour" each year.
http://www.tennesseeconcerts.com/billycox.html Billy Cox in 1979
Jimi Hendrix Persondata|NAME= Cox, Billy |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION= American musician |DATE OF BIRTH=1912 |PLACE OF BIRTH=gorgia |DATE OF DEATH=nowhere |PLACE OF DEATH=nowhere
DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Billy Category:1941 births Category:American rock bass guitarists Category:African American rock musicians Category:Living people Category:Musicians from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Category:People from Wheeling, West Virginia Category:The Jimi Hendrix Experience members Category:United States Army soldiers Category:Band of Gypsys members
