12/05/2026
In 1961, two young paratroopers met at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Billy Cox heard an unbelievable guitar player jamming in Service Club No. 1 and walked in.
That moment sparked a lifelong brotherhood.
They bonded instantly, as most of you know. Two black musicians who would later grind on the chitlin’ circuit, playing small clubs in Clarksville and Nashville, just trying to make a way. Before the fame, before the lights, they had each other. When times got tough and they had nowhere to stay, they leaned on one another.
As Billy once said, “𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦
𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”
Even after Jimi shot to superstardom with The Experience, he never forgot his brother from the beginning. In 1969, when Jimi needed real soul and trust amid the chaos of fame, he reached out to Billy.
Woodstock, Band of Gypsys with Buddy Miles, Cry Of Love - it didn’t matter. Billy’s deep, funky bass anchored Jimi’s most raw and liberated playing.
Their connection went far beyond music. It was
loyalty, shared history, and understanding.
The world saw the guitar god. Billy knew the man…
the soldier, the dreamer, the friend.
True friendships in music like this are rare. Thank you, Billy Cox, for holding it down from day one. 🙌
