GERTRUDE " BABY " COX
Baby Cox Biography by Scott Yanow in
AllMusic
Jazz and blues history is full of mystery figures, talented performers who record a few times and then are never heard from again, leaving listeners only their records. In the case of Baby Cox, almost nothing is known about her, and yet her four recordings feature a talented scat singer who was in some ways ahead of her time. Nothing is known about Baby Cox's birth or death dates or places. For a long time it was not even definitely known if Cox was a female, although because she had a role in the Broadway musical Hot Chocolates in 1929 as Gertrude Cox, at least her sex has become established. What is definite is that a year after Adelaide Hall made history with Duke Ellington when he used her wordless voice as an instrument on "Creole Love Call," Ellington reached beyond his orchestra to feature another mostly wordless singer. On the record date of October 1, 1928, Baby Cox scatted quite effectively on "The Mooche," matching her skills with that of guest guitarist Lonnie Johnson. The same day she engaged in a memorable tradeoff with cornetist Bubber Miley on an explosive "Hot and Bothered." Cox returned to the studios with Ellington on October 30 to scat a chorus of "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," a song that she remade with Duke on November 10. The later version was not released until the 1980s. Otherwise, Baby Cox appeared in Hot Chocolates and in 1933 resurfaced to appear in the obscure show Humming Sam. Beyond that, nothing is known about the elusive Baby Cox.
Comments
"The current floor show, however, is swift-paced and zestful and manifests more professional skill in its presentation than is usual in such spectacles. This is probably due to an energetic young lady known as Baby Cox. Baby Cox is a performer of much experience and is highly regarded not only by the customers but also by her fellow entertainers around the town. Pert and impetuous, she can throw herself into a tap routine, a strut, an acrobatic dance or a ditty with equal ease and success. At the Harlem she goes through the complete category and is, in addition, backed by an extraordinarily competent and comely chorus. Arnette Barbero is the master of ceremonies and Della Neusome is an added vocal embellishment." - The Buffalo Times, 11/17/1934.
She also appeared:
- in a tour of Connie's "Hot Chocolates" in 1935
- appeared at Atlanta's 81 Club in 1936
- in San Diego with the "Darktown Strutters Ball" in 1937
- and is asked by police to "slow down or cover up" during a performance at San Diego's Creole Palace in 1940
- By 1943, according to Bob Hayes, she has retired and is living in San Diego, who provides this overview of her early years in show business:
"One of the most pleasant surprises of my life happened a few days ago when I received a letter from a young lady that I have known since birth, BABY COX, yes sir: this young lady was christened GERTRUDE, but few persons knew her by that. To the world she was the daughter of Jimmie and Dickie Cox but in reality she was their niece. It was at the old Metropolitan theatre on gay Beale street that Baby made her first appearance. At that time she was not old enough to toddle, but just sat there and cooed at her public. She is now retired, happily married and with her two sons and a devoted mother and hubby." - Here and There, The Chicago Defender, 11/6/1943