Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 10, 1993 TAG: 9309090126
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Not necessarily in that order.
The Cox Family hails from the oil fields of Cotton Valley, a small town in northern Louisiana. The old-time country music clan has been performing professionally for the past 20 years, rubbing elbows with the likes of Bill Monroe, The Osborne Brothers, Mac Wiseman, Jim and Jesse and Alison Krauss.
When Krauss first heard The Cox Family, her reaction was immediate - and intense.
"I flipped out," she said. "It was like listening to the Louvin Brothers with a couple of sisters added to liven things up. Their music sounds like it has been lifted straight out of the '50s. . . . The sound is just unbelievable."
Sidney Cox, the banjo picker of the family, wrote four songs, including the title cut for Krauss' Grammy Award-winning album, "I've Got That Old Feeling." Krauss' latest release, "Every Time You Say Goodbye," features two songs by Cox.
The Cox Family has performed at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and the Merle Watson Festival, as well as the Grand Ole Opry.
The group blends bluegrass, gospel and Western swing with its old-time country style. Each member of the family is an accomplished soloist, but the group is most admired for complex vocal harmonies.
"Daddy never taught us harmony," Sidney Cox once told a reporter. "But every one of us can sing any harmony part. I don't know how I learned to do it and I sure can't tell anybody how to do it."
The Cox Family's latest album, "Everybody's Reaching Out for Someone," features new songs by Sidney Cox and obscure songs from the country music repertoire of Willard Cox, Sidney's father. Sisters Suzanne and Evelyn complete the group. Alison Krauss produced the album, a debut release on Rounder Records.
The four musicians will perform Tuesday, starting at 9 p.m., at Blacksburg's South Main Cafe. Advance tickets, $7, are on sale at the cafe and at The Record Exchange in Blacksburg. Admission at the door Tuesday is $9.
\ PUSH YOUR TUSH: Everybody's doing the "Tush Push," the latest country-western line dance.
If you want to get into the action, move your boots over to New River Valley Mall Saturday. Line dance instructor Clyde Walters is hoping enough folks will show up to make the world's longest line dance outside the mall.
Walters will give free dance lessons from noon to 3 p.m. The Tush Push starts at 1 p.m. when Broken Reins, a local country rock band, begins to play.
At 3 p.m., everyone will move inside to the mall's food court to watch the Confederate Cloggers do some fancy footwork.
\ PLAY TIME: The latest Playmakers & Company production is showing at the Playmakers' Playhouse in Blacksburg's University Mall. This is the 57th show produced by the community theater troupe.
"Painting Churches," a comic drama by Tina Howe, is about an artist who hopes to come to terms with her parents by painting their portrait. Dee Davidson plays the artist and Nora Hansen and Victor Kuehn are the parents. The play is directed by Brian Compton.
Curtain time is at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The play re-opens Thursday for a second run through Sept. 19.
Admission is $5 for adults or $3 for senior citizens and children 12 and under.
\ UNDER THE BIG TOP: Dancing bears, Russian gymnasts, daredevils of the flying trapeze, the human cannonball, Bengal tigers and brazen buffoons - that's what's under the big top.
The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus is coming to New River Valley Mall Wednesday and Thursday for two daily shows at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.
You may buy tickets now at the mall's information booth. Admission is $9 for adults and $6 for senior citizens. Mall merchants have free tickets for children while they last. Reserved seats cost an additional $2.
The best part of the circus is a freebie, but you have to get up early to see it.
On Wednesday, a crew of 50 men and a team of elephants will raise the big top. The tent raising starts at dawn and should be completed by 10 a.m. The Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus has the largest tent in the world, bigger than a football field.
\ FESTIVALS, FESTIVALS! Two biggies are happening this weekend.
In addition to Radford's Septemberfest blowout, folks will be celebrating the coming of fall in the little Giles County community of Rich Creek. Autumfest runs all day Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The festival features live entertainment, a car show, kiddie rides, bingo games, crafts, food, a pet show and a lively street dance.
The entertainment lineup features a variety of bands and performers, including magician Bobby Lilly, Delnora Reed, The Goodtime Express, The Sojourners, Judy Richardson and the Blue Rose Band, Darrell Agee, Family Traditions, The Circle Eight Square Dancers, The Split Second Band - the list goes on!
Highlighting the festival is the 33rd annual "Ox Roast" put on by the Lions Club. It's happening Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. The Lions' will serve up a meal guaranteed to melt in your mouth.
Questions? Call Sue Bradley, 726-2785; Brian Davis, 726-3244; or Pam Kantsios, 726-2831.
by CNB