KNYSNA NEWS - Tony Cox is undeniably one of the best acoustic guitar players in South Africa, winning an SA Music Award for best instrumental album not once, but three times throughout his illustrious career.
Also known as a master of the fingerpicking style, Cox has played to audiences around the world and has shared the stage with many international artists since the mid-1970s – most notably when he partnered with another local legend Steve Newman.
This Zimbabwean-born maestro has been gracing Knysna's shores permanently since he moved here about a year ago.
"I came here 32 years ago for the first time and thought then that I wanted to live here.
"As I give guitar lessons, and since the advent of video calling like Skype, it has made it easy for me to live where I want to and still teach," he says.
Cox's interests are not limited to only music, though, as he is currently gearing up for his first art exhibition, which will take place during the Knysna Arts Festival, at the Premier Hotel in George Rex Drive, from 21 to 24 February.
He will also be kicking off the festival with a live performance on Wednesday 21 February.
"My love of art came to me before I got into the music scene properly. Throughout my childhood, teen years, right up to young adulthood, I was always drawing or painting in some way.
"I even got my diploma in graphic and commercial art from Cape Technikon. After getting into music though, my art took a back seat and was limited to album covers, posters and the like," he explains.
"For the last two years though, my art has been experiencing a resurgence – I've been combining photography with graphic design which gives me a lot of control over the final product," he says.
What got him back into art?
"I guess it must be this software I came across. Taking nondescript low-resolution photos and turning them into art is amazing… I didn't want to go the paint and brush route either as it can become very expensive," says Cox.
The majority of the photographs he uses are photos he took himself, about 90% of it, with the others coming from friends around the world.
"Some send me these ancient, crinkled, old brown photographs which I clean up and turn into something that resembles a painting, and they seem to love it," he adds.
Three-times SAMA winner Tony Cox in his music room/studio in Knysna. Cox's visual art will be on show during the upcoming Knysna Arts Festival. Photos: Stefan Goosen
For his visual art, Cox uses a different name, Jeffrey Cole, which is his second name combined with his mother's maiden name.
"Getting back into art is like an old, former self coming to the fore. It's quite exciting, plus, it is a revenue stream I never really thought of," he says.
Cox is not neglecting his music, though, as he feels it comes from the same place as his visual art.
"Both are connected to beauty in some way or form, and I have a love for beauty."
Besides teaching music to students in the UK, Canada, India, Sweden and the rest of South Africa, he would like to reach out and tutor locals.
"What I would like is to increase my student numbers in town, as I have already taught a few guys here who are turning into excellent musos," he says.
"If you or your child have a serious passion and talent for playing, you can come to me to develop further."
*More info: Visit www.tonycoxguitarlessons.co.za or email guitarplayer@netactive.co.za.
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