Bill Cox (folk musician)
Bill Cox | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Luke Baldwin Dixie Songbird Clyde Ashley |
| Born | William Jennings Cox[1] August 4, 1897 Eagle, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | December 10, 1968 (aged 71) |
| Genres | Country, folk |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 1927–1940 |
| Formerly of | Cliff Hobbs |
William Jennings Cox (August 4, 1897 – December 10, 1968) was an American folk singer known as the "Dixie Songbird", active from 1927 to 1940.
Born in Eagle, West Virginia, the son of a railroad worker, he began playing guitar and singing at parties around Charleston, West Virginia in the 1920s. From 1928, he had his own radio program on station WOBU, and won a recording contract with Gennett Records. He recorded over 40 songs between 1929 and 1931, including many cover versions of Jimmie Rodgers' songs, which the station played whenever Cox was unavailable.[2]
He moved to the American Record Corporation in 1933, under producer Art Satherley, and often recorded duets with the much younger singer Cliff Hobbs (1916 – 1961). They recorded some 60 songs together during the 1930s, including "Filipino Baby" and "Sparkling Brown Eyes".[2]
After retiring in 1940, Cox ended up falling on hard times. He was rediscovered in 1966 living in poverty in a converted chicken coop, but died before he was able to make further public appearances.[2]
References
- ^ Montgomery, R. Connor (August 4, 2017). "Champion S-16443 – Luke Baldwin – 1931".
- ^ a b c "Bill Cox", Hillbilly Music. Retrieved 22 March 2022