The Cox Family: Bluegrass and Country Harmony

The Cox Family is an American bluegrass and country music group from Cotton Valley, Louisiana. The family band, consisting of siblings Evelyn, Sidney, Suzanne, and Willard, alongside their father Willard, achieved national fame in the 1990s through their pristine harmonies and a landmark collaboration with producer Alison Krauss.

Early career

The Cox Family began performing locally in Louisiana during the late 1970s, rooted in the gospel and traditional country music they heard at home. Their professional journey accelerated after meeting legendary pedal steel guitarist and producer Pete Drake, who helped them secure a record deal with the independent label Rounder Records in the late 1980s.

Their first two albums for Rounder, Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone (1989) and Looking in the Eyes of Love (1991), established their signature sound of crystalline sibling vocals over acoustic instrumentation. These early works garnered critical respect within the bluegrass and Americana communities, setting the stage for a major breakthrough.

Breakthrough

The Cox Family's career transformed in 1994 with the release of I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, produced by Alison Krauss. This album brilliantly fused their bluegrass foundation with contemporary country and gospel material, winning the Grammy Award for Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album in 1995. The success introduced The Cox Family to a vast new audience beyond traditional bluegrass circles.

This collaboration led to their signing with Krauss's label, Asylum Records, for their major-label debut. The 1996 album Just When We're Thinking It's Over further refined their sound and featured songs that would appear on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack, cementing their place in the American roots music revival.

Key tracks

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow — The title track of their Grammy-winning album with Alison Krauss is a masterclass in serene, faith-filled harmony.

Circle of Friends — This track showcases their seamless blend of country songwriting with intricate acoustic arrangements, becoming a fan favorite.

Will There Be Any Stars — A stunning gospel number that highlights the family's powerful a cappella capabilities and deep musical roots.

Sadly Bill — A poignant story-song from their major-label debut that demonstrates their skill in delivering emotional, narrative-driven material.

The Cox Family's music gained monumental exposure through the massively successful O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack in 2000, which featured their performances of "I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)" and "Keep on the Sunny Side." The soundtrack album was certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA, spending weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and dominating the country charts. Following this period, the band's activity slowed, but their influence on the harmony-driven side of bluegrass and acoustic country remains profound and widely acknowledged.

Fans of The Cox Family's heartfelt harmonies and acoustic craftsmanship also enjoy the music of Alison Krauss, their celebrated producer and collaborator who shares a dedication to vocal purity. The family-band dynamic and bluegrass tradition is echoed by The Whites, another family group with deep roots in the genre. The country-gospel blend can be heard in the work of Ricky Skaggs, a master of traditional instrumentation. For listeners drawn to sibling harmony, The Judds offer a more mainstream country perspective with a similarly powerful vocal blend.

The music of The Cox Family maintains a steady presence on radio stations dedicated to American roots music. Their songs are staples on bluegrass and Americana FM stations, classic country satellite channels, and online radio streams that champion acoustic excellence and family harmony groups from the 1990s golden era.

You can hear the timeless harmonies of The Cox Family on radio stations featured right here on onairium.com. Tune in to discover their Grammy-winning gospel tracks and essential contributions to the iconic O Brother soundtrack through our curated selection of roots music stations.