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Billy Cox

@thelastgypsystanding

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The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox, bass player for The Jimi Hendrix Experience and The Band of Gypsys.

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Throwback Thursday Last Gypsy Edition:

By this time, in July 1970, Jimi, Mitch, and I were getting ready to play Atlanta Pop on the 4th. BTW, the festival was in Byron, Georgia, outside of Macon — held in a soybean field next to a raceway. It was said to be one of the largest gatherings in Georgia's history and one of the largest in music festival history.

At Atlanta Pop, you hear Jimi start off "All Along the Watchtower" in the wrong key — I was right there with him, in the wrong key. He steps away from the mic, comes back with a low beam smile, and starts over in the right key - and I was right there with him, in the right key. Then he begins with, "As I was saying."

After the show, he grabbed and hugged me and said, "Man, you were on me like white on rice." And I said, "Nah, I was on you like a rat on cheese." He nearly cracked his side laughing. ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox#jimihendrix#mitchmitchell#jimihendrixexperience#atlantapop#july4 by @thelastgypsystanding

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4 months ago

“Surely the Universe allows egregious acts to take place for Its Devine purpose.”

It is written, the first shall be last and the last shall be first; however, during this strange time period, one cannot bank on that. The first is often REPLACED!

For those who asked the question, or for those who are interested:

I heard about Jimi’s honor on Facebook: New York City “co-named” West 8th Street as “Jimi Hendrix Way,” for which we are grateful. It is in Greenwich Village, at the corner of 6th Avenue and West 8th. It is down the street from what was supposed to be Jimi’s dream, Electric Lady Studios, where he looked forward to having access to recording 24/7, whenever he wanted.

It would have been fitting had Jimi’s brother Leon or his niece Tina been there. I do not know if they were invited, but apparently they were not there. Mitch Mitchell’s daughter, Aysha, who inspired Jimi’s “Belly Button Window,” was not invited. Her mother, Lynn, was pregnant with her at Electric Lady Studios (as seen in the picture). Tellingly, neither Juma nor I was invited — and we are the only two of his bandmates still living who recorded at Electric Lady Studios. First his army buddy, then his friend, bandmate in all of his professional bands, music collaborator, and personal confidant. Our relationship ran deep. This is what I know about the kind of man that Jimi Hendrix was: if he were still here, at the least we would have been invited. That would be the real “Jimi Hendrix Way”!

~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox by @thelastgypsystanding

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4 months ago

“At Baggy's, while getting ready for the New Year's Eve and New Year's Night concerts, Jimi, Buddy, and I started saying some outlandish things just for fun — laughing, then asking ‘who knows?’ after each outlandish thing. We were just cutting up, having a good time. But the next thing you know... ‘Who Knows.’” ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox#jimihendrix#buddymiles#whoknows#bandofgypsys by @thelastgypsystanding

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3 months ago

I had a wonderful birthday—and all your kind wishes and thoughtful comments were the icing on my cake.

With much Love and Light ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox by @thelastgypsystanding

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Wishing the Last Gypsy a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

“There was a star danced, and under that was I born.” — Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, Scene 1 ~ William Shakespeare

“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness, how the time has flown. How did it get so late so soon?” ~ Dr. Seuss

May many blessings en-lighten The Last Gypsy’s way. If you have a happy birthday wish for him, please leave it below. May God’s sustaining grace be with each and every one of us.

“Follow Your Dreams”
Billy Cox
Gypsy Sun Music

#billycox #jimihendrix #happybirthday #thelastgypsy #musichistory by @thelastgypsystanding

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Throwback Thursday, The Last Gypsy Edition

Buddy was staying at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York when he called me. He said he wanted me to stop by — he had “a little something” he was working on, and he wanted me to hear it.

While on the phone, he scatted the intro to me, and I said, “How about this?” and added what I heard coming next. Buddy got excited: “Yeah! Yeah, that’s it!” Then I said, “I’ll be right over!” It took me about 15 minutes. When I got there, the door was unlocked and Buddy was sitting on the bed, working out the song.

We’d go on to perform “Them Changes” at the Fillmore. Later, Buddy flew me to Chicago to record it for his “Them Changes” album. I played the track clean with the bass, then went back over it with a Fuzz Face to add some character.

How ‘bout those horn players!!! Some of them also played on a lot of Stax recording sessions. I loved those guys. I loved those horns. ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox #jimihendrix #buddymiles #bandofgypsys #themchanges by @thelastgypsystanding

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11 days ago

"I liked playing bass on 'Lick Creek Road' — because it had lots of rhythm.

Doesn't matter what neck of the woods you're from — ‘Lick Creek Road’ has so much rhythm and movement, it makes you want to get up and dance.

And honestly? The world was in a lot better shape back when we were doing a whole lot of dancing. Just my humble opinion.”

If you wanna know if you can still shake a leg, give “Lick Creek Road” a listen!

~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox~ by @thelastgypsystanding

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12 days ago

Ike Turner was a favorite of Jimi Hendrix — and a major influence on him.

You can see it in Jimi’s freedom in crafting his own unique style of dress, the white Strat, and that electric movement Ike orchestrated on stage - from Tina to the Ikettes to everyone in the Revue. Ike understood that a show wasn’t just sound - it was motion. And Jimi took that and made it his own. When Jimi Hendrix wasn’t moving on stage, he was still moving.

Ike is credited as a major influence in the early history of rock ‘n’ roll. He was the brain behind the operation, a businessman, a showman, and a fine guitarist, leading the Ike & Tina Turner Revue on the Chitlin’ Circuit during the Golden Age of R&B.

Now — I did not know Ike Turner personally, and I never played with him. Disturbing claims surround his personal life. When it comes to the claims made about my friend Jimi, I can vehemently defend him, because I knew him. But I have no personal knowledge of Ike Turner - only his professional life and his musical influence - and that is all I’m here to speak to.

Influencing many R&B icons who would come later, Ike was a foundation and a pathfinder during the Golden Age of R&B. Their crossover appeal in the late ‘60s brought them to new heights — but sadly, in the years that followed, the Ike and Tina Turner Revue’s star would go nova. ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox #jimihendrix #iketurner #tinaturner #thelastgypsy by @thelastgypsystanding

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Jimi, still missing you, my friend... ~ Billy

“My grief lies all within, And these external manners of lament Are merely shadows to the unseen grief That swells with silence in the tortured soul.”

~ William Shakespeare

#billycox #jimihendrix #milesdavis #musichistory by @thelastgypsystanding

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a month ago

Most know Jimi's genius on the guitar. But few know how fast he was on his feet.

Jimi and I were out of the military, living in Nashville, when that sprint took place — along with Larry Lee, who was still a college student and had yet to be drafted.

A few years later, Larry Lee — by then a wounded veteran — Jimi, and I would be hitting the big stage together.

Three Army veterans, JAMming Back at the House, getting ready for their appearance at Woodstock! ~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox #jimihendrix #larrylee #thelastgypsy #musichistory by @thelastgypsystanding

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The Dick Cavett Show - September 9, 1969

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” — Matthew 23:12

Jimi never got it twisted. He understood that although the guitar was the instrument he played, he too was an instrument.

In July of ‘69, Jimi had appeared on the Dick Cavett Show without his band. This time, in September ‘69, after Woodstock, he made a second appearance — and Jimi performed, along with Mitch, Juma, and me.

When Dick Cavett told him he was considered one of the best guitarists in the world, rather, one of the best in this studio - Jimi just smiled and said, “How about the best sitting in this chair?”

You can view Jimi in this appearance. But I wonder how many can really SEE him — discern the essence of the man, and not the script disseminated for public consumption.~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox #billycox #jimihendrix #mitchmitchell #thelastgypsy #musichistory by @thelastgypsystanding

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Happy Heavenly Birthday, Buddy!

Here's a Buddy remembrance.

Buddy and I always stayed in touch over the years, after Jimi's transition.

Somewhere back in the mid-to-late 1980s, I hadn't heard from Buddy for about a year. My shepherd and I were watching television, and a California Raisins commercial came on. I got excited to hear from Buddy — even indirectly. I said to my shepherd, "That's your uncle Buddy singing. I'd know that voice anywhere."

He cocked his head, came over, and licked my ear.

~ The Last Gypsy, Billy Cox

#billycox #jimihendrix #buddymiles #machinegun #filmoreeast by @thelastgypsystanding

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