"YA'LL KNOW MR. BASS"....Stevie Ray Vaughan introducing Billy Cox as he brings him on to jam at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville--January 28, 1986.

Billy 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 Jimi 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 the area, finally settling in Nashville, Tennessee.They formed a group now known to history as the King Kasuals. They did all the Nashville clubs and traveled all over the southeast and as far north as Indianapolis playing what was called the "Chitlin' Circuit" (the black club scene).

Jimi eventually left Nashville and continued to struggle all over the country until he was discovered by Chas Chandler in New York.

Chas took Jimi to England, (and the rest is history) but before Jimi left, he called Billy and asked him to go and be part of it. Billy (in his own words) "Only had three strings on my bass" and no money to travel to New York, so he thanked Jimi and wished him well.

Destiny had other plans for Billy. He continued to play, backing some of the greats in R n' B until the Jimi Hendrix Experience broke up in mid 1969. Jimi then called his old friend and Billy was there...recording in the studio, playing Woodstock (as Gypsys, Suns, and Rainbows) recording some more, playing the legendary series of shows  with Jimi and Buddy Miles as the Band of Gypsys, and performing and recording solidly through the year 1970.

After Jimi's death Billy played for a time with the Charlie Daniels Band. Following that he continued to do sessions and club dates.

I met Billy in 1985 and several months later co-produced a Hendrix tribute in a local club where we showed rare video and had some live music. I asked him if he would come so I could introduce him to the crowd. he asked, "I don't have to play do I ?" "Just be there as my special guest," I told him. He not only showed up, he brought his bass, a guitar player, and Fred Edwards the drummer from his days with Charlie Daniels. I said to him, "I didn't think you were going to play!" to which he replied, " I couldn't let you down Dave."

He got such a positive reaction from the people that he put together a group with Gary Serkin on guitar and various singers and called it Gypsy Suns and Rainbows.

In 1986 I introduced Billy to Stevie Ray Vaughan. I sat on the front row of the empty auditorium and watched them rehearse "Come On Pt. 1" and "Voodoo Child" (Slight Return). That night they brought the house down. Stevie was humble and thrilled to be working with one of HIS heroes. He later confided to me that, that night was the high light of the entire tour for him.

Billy Cox has recently reunited with Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell, and guitarist Gary Serkin and done a series of shows under the name Gypsy Sun Experience.

Last Summer, the Cort company released the Billy Cox "Freedom" model bass. The story...and the music..goes on.

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