Archie Pereira, Reuben (our Major Domo), Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bert Jansch, Egberto Gismonti, Sakile, Hugh Masakela, Keith Jarrett, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Leo Kottke, Jannie Hofmeyr, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan, Ali Farka Toure, Sipho Mchunu, Wood, Water, Birdsong, Deserts, Trees, Wide Open Spaces, Apartheid, Cruelty, Passion, Injustice, Kindness, Compassion, Love
Sounds Like
a runaway train; a nest of ants; a dirty city; the Karoo at dusk; a Zulu impi; children; a street carnival; a long, hot, slow day; a psychotic sewing machine and a packet of slap (pr: slup) chips with lots of vinegar and salt...
Born in Zimbabwe and residing in the U.K. multiple award-winning acoustic guitarist Tony Cox has become a veritable icon of the instrument in his own country. For a number of years now the guitarist has been working his particular six-string magic further a-field. As of late, he has undertaken regular forays into Europe and North America and has seen a loyal fan-base begin to develop in the UK, Germany and Canada.
When he was just nine years old Tony Cox began, incredibly, learning and playing the Hawaiian guitar in what was then Rhodesia. This was brought about by one Archie Pereira arriving from Lisbon and for reasons unknown decided to settle in the backwater of Kwe-Kwe, a town 20 miles away from Cox’s mining-town birthplace, Redcliff.
In his teens and after Archie disappeared back to Lisbon, Cox changed to a conventional guitar style and later studied the classical guitar for an intensive 2-year period. In 1969 the family left Rhodesia to settle in Cape Town South Africa and it is here the young guitarist really started to absorb and assimilate the multi-textured rhythms and facets of the rich, indigenous music of his upbringing and surroundings.
He began to compose his own music early and immediately charged it with the African imagery that is very much a part of this unique guitar player’s world perspective. Using all the finger-style techniques he had absorbed over the years from such greats as Leo Kottke and Bert Jansch, Cox honed and developed a style all his own. With the rigorous precision of classical technique juxtaposing the loose, laid-backed delivery of a master at work, Cox’s music tumbles out at you, hitting your tapping feet with its solid groove and taking your heart and mind on harmonic journeys they have not been ... Tony Cox on-stage is as warm and engaging with his audience as he is off-stage. Telling stories and anecdotes, he draws a person in and you find yourself listening really closely to a tune you may never have heard before and then being punched in the solar-plexus at the power and delivery of that tune.
Besides being a solo performer Cox has collaborated and recorded with many other musicians to produce three award-winning albums and a string of nominations. ‘China’ (UK/SA slang for friend) is just such an album. He recorded it in 2002 featuring many of the cream of SA musicians and is a great example of Cox’s ability to work beyond the confines of solo guitar playing. The album won the ‘best instrumental’ category at the 2003 SAMA awards. He has very recently received his 7th nomination for the 2008 SAMA awards for his new release, ‘Blue Anthem’ and at the event last year, walked away with his third SAMA.
In late September 2007 Cox performed at the ‘Open Strings International Guitar Festival’ in Osnabrueck, Germany up alongside the finest guitar players in the world. Shortly after, he completed a 16-theatre tour of Canada and the USA, where he performs annually. He now resides in the UK and tours the world performing as a solo guitarist.
hey Tony, was an absolute pleasure to spend some time with you. had your cd on max all the way home! just bloody brilliant :-) can't wait for November myself, have a safe trip and i'll see you then. Nick
i can't explain how great you are! I can only say, i had one of the best time of my life playing and staying with you dear brother! You're surely an incredible musician and person!! Can't wait to see eachother again Tony! My bests to you! God bless you! Andrea
It is a great honour to recieve compliments from such a great musician as you are! I really enjoyed your music too and I hope to have the opportunity to be present at your performance again in the future.
Hey man! What a hard work to write in English for me... but even It's a great pleasure to being in touch with you.
On Friday 11th September, 2009, I witnessed one of South Africa's guitar maestros in action, a living musical legend, at The Cambridge Folk Club. I have posted some photos on my own website of the event: http://www.bigfoot.com/~pgroves/TonyCoxCambridge09.htm
I have also created a "Fans of guitarist Tony Cox" on Facebook.
Online Now!
M A M Y K Ô 
