The Cox Family
Encyclopedia
The Cox Family is an American Bluegrass
family group from Cotton Valley
in Webster Parish
in northwestern Louisiana
, United States
.
, bluegrass
, and gospel
styles. The Cox family was joined for a short time in the early 1990s by Greg Underwood on the bass, during the absence of third daughter Lynn.
The Cox Family first began performing regularly together at fairs and festivals in 1976, though an earlier performance can be heard in the 1974 version of Broken Engagement which appears on Beyond the City (1995). Their career was given a big boost when in the early '90s they met Alison Krauss
, who brought them to the attention of Rounder Records
. They also gained massive exposure when in 1994 they caught the ear of Adam Duritz, frontman of the multi-platinum-selling Counting Crows
, who was so impressed with the Cox Family that he invited them to open for the band during its North American tour.
Krauss, who has produced all but the family's very first release Quiet Storm on Wilcox Records, recorded several of Sidney's songs, which appeared on both of her Grammy Award
-winning albums, including the title track of I've Got That Old Feeling.
The Cox Family recorded two records of their own on Rounder Records: Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone (1993) and Beyond the City (1995), which earned them a Grammy nomination for "Best Bluegrass Album". They also collaborated with Krauss on an album entitled I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, which won a Grammy in 1994 for "Best Country/Gospel/Bluegrass Album." The Cox Family also shared a Grammy for their participation in the various-artists project Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel. Their major-label debut, Just When We're Thinking It's Over, was released on Asylum Records
in 1996.
In July 2000, shortly after recording two songs for the Coen Brothers
film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
, the family were dealt a blow when Willard Cox and his wife Marie were seriously injured in a traffic accident near their home in Cotton Valley. In February 2009, Marie Cox, Willard Cox's wife and mother to their children, died from cancer. Alison Krauss was among the many that attended the funeral.
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
family group from Cotton Valley
Cotton Valley, Louisiana
Cotton Valley is a town in central Webster Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,189 at the 2000 census. It is located some twenty miles northwest of the parish seat of Minden.-Overview:-Municipal matters:...
in Webster Parish
Webster Parish, Louisiana
Webster Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Minden. In 2010, its population was 41,207....
in northwestern Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Members
- Evelyn Cox (born June 20, 1959) - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals - Lynn Cox - (born October 11, 1960) - bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, vocals - Sidney Cox - (born July 21, 1965) - banjoBanjoIn the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, dobroDobroDobro is a registered trademark, now owned by Gibson Guitar Corporation and used for a particular design of resonator guitar.The name has a long and involved history, interwoven with that of the resonator guitar...
, guitar, vocals - Suzanne Cox - (born June 5, 1967) - mandolinMandolinA mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, vocals - Willard Cox - (born June 9, 1937) - fiddleFiddleThe term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
, vocals - Greg Underwood - bass, vocals
History
The singing group comprises father Willard, son Sidney, and daughters Evelyn and Suzanne. Their distinctive sound derives from a combination of CountryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, and gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
styles. The Cox family was joined for a short time in the early 1990s by Greg Underwood on the bass, during the absence of third daughter Lynn.
The Cox Family first began performing regularly together at fairs and festivals in 1976, though an earlier performance can be heard in the 1974 version of Broken Engagement which appears on Beyond the City (1995). Their career was given a big boost when in the early '90s they met Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
, who brought them to the attention of Rounder Records
Rounder Records
Rounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
. They also gained massive exposure when in 1994 they caught the ear of Adam Duritz, frontman of the multi-platinum-selling Counting Crows
Counting Crows
Counting Crows is an American rock band originating from Berkeley, California. Formed in 1991, the group gained popularity following the release of its debut album in 1993, August and Everything After, which featured the hit single "Mr. Jones"...
, who was so impressed with the Cox Family that he invited them to open for the band during its North American tour.
Krauss, who has produced all but the family's very first release Quiet Storm on Wilcox Records, recorded several of Sidney's songs, which appeared on both of her Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning albums, including the title track of I've Got That Old Feeling.
The Cox Family recorded two records of their own on Rounder Records: Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone (1993) and Beyond the City (1995), which earned them a Grammy nomination for "Best Bluegrass Album". They also collaborated with Krauss on an album entitled I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, which won a Grammy in 1994 for "Best Country/Gospel/Bluegrass Album." The Cox Family also shared a Grammy for their participation in the various-artists project Amazing Grace: A Country Salute to Gospel. Their major-label debut, Just When We're Thinking It's Over, was released on Asylum Records
Asylum Records
Asylum Records is an American record label founded in 1971 by David Geffen, and partner Elliot Roberts, who had previously worked as agents at the William Morris Agency. Founded specifically to provide a record contract for Jackson Browne, the label signed Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Joni Mitchell...
in 1996.
In July 2000, shortly after recording two songs for the Coen Brothers
Coen Brothers
Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers...
film O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a 2000 comedy film directed by Joel and Ethan Coen and starring George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, and Charles Durning. Set in 1937 rural Mississippi during the Great Depression, the film's story is a modern satire loosely...
, the family were dealt a blow when Willard Cox and his wife Marie were seriously injured in a traffic accident near their home in Cotton Valley. In February 2009, Marie Cox, Willard Cox's wife and mother to their children, died from cancer. Alison Krauss was among the many that attended the funeral.
Discography
- Quiet Storm (Wilcox Records)
- Everybody's Reaching Out For Someone (Rounder, 1993)
- I Know Who Holds TomorrowI Know Who Holds TomorrowI Know Who Holds Tomorrow is an album by American violinist/singer Alison Krauss & the Cox Family, released in 1994.At the Grammy Awards of 1995 I Know Who Holds Tomorrow won the Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album....
(Rounder, 1994) - Beyond the City (Rounder, 1995)
- Just When We're Thinking It's Over (Asylum, 1996)