Billy Cox - Early Years

Early Years

Born in Wheeling, West Virginia, Billy Cox was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Schenley High School. 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 Hendrix 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 Clarksville, Tennessee, finally moving to Nashville. They formed a group now known to history as the King Kasuals. They played at Nashville clubs, mostly the Del Morroco, and occasional outlying gigs in the southeast, once as far north as Indianapolis playing what was called the "Chitlin' Circuit". Hendrix eventually left Nashville, playing all over the US in the backing groups of several famous artists, most notably Little Richard and The Isley Bothers, until he was "discovered" by Chas Chandler in New York. Chandler took Hendrix to England, (and the rest is history) but before Hendrix left, he called Cox and asked him to join him. Cox (in his own words) "Only had three strings on my bass" and no money to travel to New York, so he thanked Hendrix and wished him well. From 1962 to 1968 Cox gained musical experience and developed his expertise. Cox played bass on the pioneering R&B television shows, Nashville’s “Night Train” and then the “The!!!! Beat” from Dallas, Texas, working closely with Hoss Allen and John Richbourg of WLAC Radio. Billy Cox has played behind many famous artists. He has either been a member of the house or touring band or recorded sessions for such as: Sam Cooke; bluesman, Slim Harpo; Joe Simon; Charlie Daniels; R&B and funk pioneer, Rufus Thomas and his daughter, R&B artist, Carla Thomas; Lou Rawls; blues star, Etta James; Jackie Wilson and the self proclaimed "King of Rock-n-Roll," Little Richard.