Tony Cox

Twice South African Music Award-winning, Zimbabwe-born Tony Cox is an icon for guitarists everywhere.  With regular performances as far afield as England and Canada, Cox has enjoyed a long and varied musical career.

Interestingly, Tony began playing Hawaiian guitar at age nine, only switching to conventional, classical studies in his late teenage years.  After relocating with his family to Cape Town during this time, Cox’s talent developed exponentially as he absorbed and assimilated the multi-textured rhythms and facets of the rich, indigenous music of South Africa.

His compositions are charged 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 aquired over the years from such greats as Leo Kottke and Bert Jansch, Cox has 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, his music tumbles out at you, mesmerizing listeners with an unmistakeable groove, while his warm and engaging on-stage personality makes him endearing and uplifting to watch.

Besides being a powerful solo performer, Tony Cox has collaborated and recorded with many other artists.  His 2002 album, China (SA slang for friend), features many of the country's most celebrated musicians and was awarded a SAMA in the Best Instrumental category.  Cox has also written scores for films and television.