For those of you who are not familiar with the Cox Family and for those of you who are, The Cox Family’s new album Gone Like the Cotton has been in the making for the past 17 years. Released by Rounder Records ( whose clients include Rhonda Vincent and the Rage and Alison Krauss ) in October 2015, it was well worth the wait.
The Cox Family is comprised of father Willard Cox, his son Sidney, and daughters Evelyn and Suzanne. Starting their musical journey in 1976, their career started to take off in the early 1990’s when they met Alison Krauss, as she introduced them to Rounder Records. Then, in 1994, they met frontman Adam Duritz from Counting Crows who invited them to be the opening act for his bands North American tour.
The Cox Family recorded two albums of their own: Everybody’s Reaching Out for Someone in 1993 and Beyond the City in 1995. In 1994, The Cox Family recorded with Alison Krauss on an album entitled I know Who Holds Tomorrow, for which they received a Grammy for Best Country/Gospel/Bluegrass Album. In 2000, several tunes were recorded by The Cox Family for the film ” O Brother, Where Art Thou,” which starred George Clooney, John Goodman, and Holly Hunter. Unexpectedly, one year later the soundtrack rose to number one on the pop, country and bluegrass charts.
“Gone Like The Cotton”
Unfortunately, in 2000, an automobile accident left father Willard Cox paralyzed and confined to a wheel chair. In 2014, the tapes of the band’s 1998 album, Gone Like the Cotton were rediscovered. This album is a fine example of combining country, bluegrass, and gospel styles.
“Good Imitation Of The Blues” is just that, as you sway yourself back and forth. Track 2 will bring you right back to 1977 with their rendition of the David Gates hit, “Lost Without Your Love.” And let’s not forget the title track “Gone Like the Cotton” which will bring you right to the front porch of the Cox’s Louisiana home. Seems like Rounder Records sure knows how to pick them.
Rounder Records