Colton Cox

 Since the first time he heard his grandfather play the Chuck Berry classic "Johnny B. Goode" on his '97 red Fender Stratocaster, Colton Cox has had an enduring love of music, especially from the early years of rock n' roll.

     In 2018, while taking a short break from performing in his previous band Afro Jim, Colton Cox began delving into new material, fusing sounds from a wide spectrum of influences, from the classic rock and funk of 60s and 70s icons like Bob Dylan and The Beatles, to more diverse, contemporary artists like Queens of the Stone Age and The Black Keys. Cox ultimately ended up shelving these songs until years later, when he decided to move to Kansas City in January of 2020 and embark on a solo career. 

     Now, after making it of out the worst parts of the COVID-19 epidemic, and patiently waiting for venues to open back up, Cox has released his debut EP, Internal Combustion, and promoted it on The Jolly Giants tour with his good friend and fellow KC artist, Calvin Arsenia. With this release, Cox plans to begin extensively traveling the country, spreading his music as far as he can. 

     Internal Combustion is Colton Cox’s groovy, rockin’, soulful debut as a solo artist. Austin Sher from We Write About Music described it as, "Blending up glimmers of psychedelic rock, funk, and alternative R&B, Colton Cox has gone above and beyond on this debut. Jam packed with memorable guitar solos, innovative bass lines, and his vocals that ultimately seal the deal, this the perfect base to jump off of as he continues to work on his next project." The album represents the culmination of several years of work for Cox, and the nuance and dedication to his craft are evident.

     When playing live, Cox incorporates a fair deal of improvisation, firing off passionate guitar solos and stretching the forms of his songs into new shapes. While Cox writes the music and lyrics, his backing band rotates often, making it so his music always has fresh voices and ideas being brought to the table.

     Towering over most mortals at 6'8", and almost always sporting a big grin under a bushy beard, Colton is truly a jolly giant, and hopes his music can provide a warm, loving, safe space to those who are in need of a friend.