He rarely missed a beat. Terry Cox recalled. Simon Jones pays tribute.
Spiral Earth was saddened to hear of the death of Pentangle drummer and percussionist with 60s folk/jazz/ rock pioneers Pentangle, Terry Cox. He left us on March 19th at the grand age of 89.
Cox besides throwing in his lot with Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee and Danny Thompson was also a session musician who played with a diverse roll call of artists, placing him in many genres beyond that for which he was chiefly known and recognised. There was much more to him than just anchoring folk and roots material. Jazz with Michael Garrick, blues with Alexis Korner, easy listening and nostalgia with Charles Aznavour, pop with David Bowie, Elton John and Lynsey de Paul, classical with John Williams and even soundtracks on ‘Live & Let Die.’ That’s just scratching the surface. Bravely he even appeared on a Scott Walker album!
His resume makes interesting reading, he left our shores many years ago to live on Menorca but returned with regularity to play on the solo albums of his Pentangle colleagues as well as in regular reunions, which culminated in the band reforming and recording more albums. John Renbourn left first, followed by Terry in 1987. He returned to Pentangle twice more, the last time in 2011 when shows were recorded and released in 2016 as ‘Finale.’ Back in the Balearics he and his wife ran a restaurant where Terry acted as front of house between musical engagements.
His drumming was always sensitive and appropriate, whilst he was obviously the heart of the group, he never overpowered the vocals or other instruments, much of that came from the fact that he’d played with bassist Danny Thompson in blues and jazz bands pre Pentangle, the afore mentioned Alexis Korner acoustically and Duffy Power electrically. The rest was just Terry Cox and his adaptability, he was as subtle be he using brushes or drum sticks. It’s also little known that he wrote material for Pentangle and with other artists later on in his career.
Terry Cox was a quietly effective musician, known for his flexibility and adventurous attitude. His passing leaves Jacqui McShee as the sole original member of Pentangle and the keeper of the name and the flame.
Our condolences to his family and friends.
