Billy Cox
Encyclopedia
William "Billy" Cox is an American bass
ist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix
.
, Cox was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Schenley High School
. He first met Jimi Hendrix in the early 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army
, stationed at Fort Campbell
. Cox teamed with Hendrix in an R&B band called the King Kasuals. The two performed at clubs in Nashville, Tennessee
. While in England
, Hendrix invited Cox to join him in a new band; Cox declined, preferring to work in various backing band
s. The spot instead went to Noel Redding
.
.
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
, 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.
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.
'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.
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.
, Kenny Olsen, 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.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist, best known for performing with Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
Early years
Born in Wheeling, West VirginiaWheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Cox was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Schenley High School
Schenley High School
Schenley High School is both a public school building and a school program that closed with the graduating class of 2011. Schenley High School is located in the North Oakland neighborhood at the edge of the Hill District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. In 2008 the school's staff and...
. He first met Jimi Hendrix in the early 1960s, when they were both in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, stationed at Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell
Fort Campbell is a United States Army installation located astraddle the Kentucky-Tennessee border between Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee...
. Cox teamed with Hendrix in an R&B band called the King Kasuals. The two performed at clubs in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. While in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Hendrix invited Cox to join him in a new band; Cox declined, preferring to work in various backing band
Rhythm section
A rhythm section is a collection of musicians who make up a section of instruments which provides the accompaniment section of the music, giving the music its rhythmic texture and pulse, also serving as a rhythmic reference for the rest of the band...
s. The spot instead went to Noel Redding
Noel Redding
Noel Redding was an English rock and roll guitarist best known as the bassist for The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Biography:...
.
Reunited with Hendrix
They re-united musically in 1969, when Hendrix called on Cox to play bass in the Band of GypsysBand of Gypsys
Band of Gypsys was a blues rock band led by Jimi Hendrix and backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Hendrix formed the band after the dissolution of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Band of Gypsys is also the band's eponymous live album recorded on two separate nights, 31 December 1969 and 1 January...
.
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
Nine to the Universe
-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – lead and rhythm guitar all tracks, lead vocals on track 1 *Larry Lee – rhythm guitar on track 4 *Jim McCarty – lead & rhythm guitar on track 2*Larry Young – organ on track 3...
, and a reconstructed version of First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun is a "concept compilation" attempting to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as closely as is feasible to how he would have wanted it...
, in addition to such home-videos as Live at the Isle of Wight 1970, Live at Woodstock, The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various television networks, including:* ABC daytime ...
, Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge (album)
-Non album tracks that appear in the film:*"Bleeding Heart" Released on War Heroes in 1972....
, and Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
.
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
Mitch Mitchell
John Ronald "Mitch" Mitchell was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.-Early life and the Jimi Hendrix Experience:...
on drums) for most of 1970 on the Cry of Love tour. Cox lives in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, where he remains active in music, and acts as an ambassador for Jimi Hendrix, his music and philosophy.
1970s–1980s
In 1971, Cox released his album Nitro FunctionNitro Function
-Track listing:#"Message" – 1:03#"42-70 " – 4:55#"Touch Me" – 2:50#"You Really Got Me" – 4:13#"Portrait" – 4:56#"Powerhouse" – 3:11#"You Got a Hold on Me" – 3:12#"Play Your Own Blues" – 4:59#"Not My Time" – 3:53#"Let Me Do What I Want to Do" – 2:40...
with Char Vinnedge (from Luv'd Ones
Luv'd Ones
Char Vinnedge's career as lead guitarist / singer began in the early 1960s with her all-girl group The Tremolons, in which she initially played all instrumentals and recorded a single on Wildwood Records for Komotion Music that contained: "Please Let Me Know" and "Theme For A DJ"...
) 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–2000
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 CameronBruce Cameron (guitarist)
Bruce Cameron was a guitarist who managed to attract a number of famous rock-and-roll musicians to record his 1999 debut and only album, Midnight Daydream, released by Brain Cell Records...
's album, Midnight Daydream
Midnight Daydream
Midnight Daydream is an album by Bruce Cameron, released in 1999.-Track listing:#"Midnight Daydream" – 6:42#"Doctor Please" – 4:52#"Mind Gardens" – 5:24#"Miles Away" – 3:29#"Born to Lose" – 5:32#"I Want to Be Late" – 4:19...
, 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.
Cox worked on First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun
First Rays of the New Rising Sun is a "concept compilation" attempting to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as closely as is feasible to how he would have wanted it...
, 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.
2000–present
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 GalesEric Gales
Eric Gales is an American blues-rock guitarist, originally hailed as a child prodigy. Gales has recorded ten albums on major record labels, and has done session and tribute work...
, Kenny Olsen, Sheldon Reynolds
Sheldon Reynolds (guitarist)
Sheldon Reynolds is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter.-Biography:At the age of 8, Reynolds picked up the guitar. In 1977, Sheldon graduated from Mount Healthy High School where he was active in the music program...
, 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.
Band of Gypsys
- Band of GypsysBand of GypsysBand of Gypsys was a blues rock band led by Jimi Hendrix and backed by Billy Cox and Buddy Miles. Hendrix formed the band after the dissolution of The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Band of Gypsys is also the band's eponymous live album recorded on two separate nights, 31 December 1969 and 1 January...
, Jimi Hendrix, 1970 - Band of Gypsys 2Band of Gypsys 2-Recording details:*Track 1 recorded at the Fillmore East, New York City, New York, USA on December 31, 1969*Tracks 2 and 3 recorded at the Fillmore East, New York City, New York, USA on January 1, 1970...
, Jimi Hendrix, 1986 - The Band of Gypsys Return, Buddy Miles & Billy Cox, 2006
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
- Live at Berkeley, 2003
- Live at the Isle of FehmarnLive at the Isle of FehmarnLive at the Isle of Fehmarn is a posthumous live album by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on December 13, 2005 by Dagger Records. The album documents the band's performance at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival in Fehmarn, Germany on September 6, 1970; Jimi Hendrix's final concert performance...
, 2005
Jimi Hendrix
- The Cry of LoveThe Cry of Love-Personnel:Band members*Jimi Hendrix – lead vocals, guitars, backing vocals on tracks 3 and 9, piano on track 1, production on all tracks except 5*Billy Cox – bass on all tracks except 5 and 10...
, 1971 - Rainbow BridgeRainbow Bridge (album)-Non album tracks that appear in the film:*"Bleeding Heart" Released on War Heroes in 1972....
, 1971 - Isle of WightIsle of Wight (album)Isle of Wight was a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix, released in November 1971 by Polydor. The album documents Hendrix's performance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival on August 30, 1970; his last performance in England before his death in September. The album was engineered by Carlos Ohlms...
, 1971 - Hendrix in the WestHendrix in the WestHendrix in the West was a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix, released in January 1972 by Polydor Records, and later in February by Reprise Records...
, 1972 - War HeroesWar Heroes-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – guitars, lead vocals, bass on track 1, backing vocals on "Izabella"*Mitch Mitchell – drums*Billy Cox – bass*Noel Redding – bass on "Highway Chile", "Tax Free" & "Midnight"-Recording details:...
, 1972 - Loose EndsLoose Ends (Jimi Hendrix album)-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – guitars, lead vocals*Billy Cox – bass, backing vocals on track 6*Mitch Mitchell – drums on tracks 1, 3, 4 and 5*Buddy Miles – drums on tracks 2, 6, 7 and 8 , backing vocals on tracks 6 and 7...
, 1974 - Crash Landing, 1975
- Midnight LightningMidnight Lightning-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – guitars, vocals*Mitch Mitchell – drums on track 3Added in 1975:*Jeff Mironov – guitar on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5 and 8*Lance Quinn – guitar on tracks 2, 4, 6 and 7...
, 1975 - Nine to the UniverseNine to the Universe-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – lead and rhythm guitar all tracks, lead vocals on track 1 *Larry Lee – rhythm guitar on track 4 *Jim McCarty – lead & rhythm guitar on track 2*Larry Young – organ on track 3...
, 1980 - The Jimi Hendrix ConcertsThe Jimi Hendrix Concerts-Recording details:*Tracks 1 and 10 recorded at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, USA on October 12, 1968 *Track 6 recorded at the Winterland Arena, San Francisco, California, USA on October 12, 1968...
, 1982 - WoodstockWoodstock (Jimi Hendrix album)-Personnel:*Jimi Hendrix – lead guitar, vocals*Mitch Mitchell – drums*Billy Cox – bass guitar*Larry Lee – rhythm guitar*Juma Sultan – percussion*Jerry Velez – percussion...
, 1994 - Blues, 1994
- Voodoo SoupVoodoo SoupVoodoo Soup is a posthumous album by Jimi Hendrix. It was released on April 11, 1995 by MCA Records and was compiled by Alan Douglas, who was also responsible for the posthumous Hendrix releases Midnight Lightning and Crash Landing in the 1970s...
, 1995 - First Rays of the New Rising SunFirst Rays of the New Rising SunFirst Rays of the New Rising Sun is a "concept compilation" attempting to recreate the album Jimi Hendrix was working on at the time of his death in 1970, as closely as is feasible to how he would have wanted it...
, 1997 - South Saturn DeltaSouth Saturn DeltaSouth Saturn Delta is a posthumous Jimi Hendrix album compiled by the Hendrix estate that consists of material such as demo tapes, unfinished takes and alternate mixes, previously released material, most of which Hendrix had been working on prior to his death in 1970.When the Hendrix family...
, 1997 - Live at WoodstockLive at WoodstockThe remastered 2010 "Experience Hendrix" DVD includes the following on the second disc titled "A Second Look":"Road To Woodstock: Hendrix performance footage, interview with Woodstock promoter Michael Lang and Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Larry Lee, Juma Sultan and others."Jimi Hendrix: Live At...
, 1999 - Live at the Fillmore East, 1999
- Live at Berkeley, 2003
- Valleys of NeptuneValleys of Neptune-Recording details:All recording details are included in the Valleys of Neptune booklet, except for the Target tracks, which are listed on the inside of the Digipack behind the CD.Target bonus tracks-Album artwork:...
, 2010 - West Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix AnthologyWest Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix AnthologyWest Coast Seattle Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Anthology is a posthumous box set by American blues-rock musician Jimi Hendrix. The set was released on November 16, 2010, in the US and includes four discs of previously unreleased studio and live recordings as well as a DVD with a documentary based on the...
, 2010