Actor, Ronny Cox, appeared recently at Crossroad's Music, in Winnsboro, as he
delighted the crowd with his singing and songwriting talents.

 

Ronny Cox Continues to Add
To A Multi-Talented Career

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

"I was 'hooked' and became a Ronny Cox fan, back in 1972, when I first saw him deliver that compelling Duelling Banjos performance in James Dickey's Deliverance, as he made his film debute," expressed one "middle-aged" gentleman in the audience. "I remember him and the afflicted boy duelling banjos at the cabin, in the opening scene of the movie, when I was still in high school, but Ronny Cox continues to amaze me, as he continues acting, singing, and writing songs!"

We found film star, Ronny Cox, recently at an appearance at Crossroads Music, in Winnsboro, as he brought his folk tunes and favorite songs to Northeast Texas, as he entertained a small crowd, in the cozy, "Coffeehouse" atmosphere, while he spun tales and inspirations for his songs and music. "It was almost just like sitting down and conversing with him one-on-one," related Dr. Paul Bennett, local dentist. "Anytime I hear that Ronny's going to be in the area, I make plans to attend, because I love his songs, love his music, and love to see him in movies and on television. How many times do you get to sit down and visit with such a talented individual and have such a good time doing it?"

Ronny began his show with "How I Love Them Old Songs" and quickly entered into "Sanctuary," before stopping and making his first explanation of a song entitled "Hot Water Cornbread." "My grandmother made the sweetest cornbread on this planet," explained Cox. "And, this is a song written about that delightful dish and my grandmother, Grandma Sims, who was a direct influence on my life, back in my formative years in Cloudcroft, New Mexico."

Find his song "Hot Water Cornbread" and he will tell you in the song, the recipe for this summertime treat!

 

Ronny Cox shares, one of many, laughs with his audience in Winnsboro.

 

 

"Yep, I grew-up in neighboring New Mexico and attended college in Portales, never dreaming I'd get the opportunity to star in a movie with Burt Reynolds and Jon Voight, and make my film debute with a then other unknown, Ned Beaty," related Cox, as he was perched on a stool, in Winnsboro, with his guitar. "Deliverance was one of those life-changing events that takes place in your life, when you're not even looking. It was a great opportunity and opened doors to a career that has taken me all over the world and a long, long way from my quite humble beginnings in New Mexico."

Ronny Cox increased that earlier fan base from Deliverance, as he starred in a number of other movies, including: Bound For Glory (one of my favorites - 1976), the story of singer, Woodie Guthrie's life; The Onion Field, in 1979; RoboCop, in 1987; Beverly Hills Cop, in 1984; Taps, in 1981; Cop Rock, 1990; Total Recall, 1990; and, many, many others.

However, Ronny Cox is also a talented singer and songwriter and continued his Winnsboro show with now deceased Rickey Newberry's son "San Francisco Maple Joy," that depicts the life of a Waycross, Georgia, farmboy, who falls desperately in love with a prostitute, in the Streets of San Francisco......"Daddy was an honest man, Red dirt Georgia Farmer, His mother lived a short life;....Met a girl on the ship...San Francisco's Maple Joy....Sunday morning found him standing under the red light on her door...He turned 21 in prison...Dreams of Georgia Cotton and his Maple Joy.... The man said, 'Son she don't live here no more...she's lookin' for some Georgia farmboy'...."

 

Ronny Cox, the multi-talented performer, was a delight and wonderful entertainer.

 

Cox continued his repertoire of songs with "Gone to Alabama," another song by Newberry, and then began a spiritual entitled "The Water is Wide"....I can't cross over.....And, he continued with a tribute to his childhood sweetheart, life partner, and deceased wife, Mary, whom he lost three years ago to cancer, with "Love is Gentle and Love is Kind"...Neither have I wings to fly, Give me a boat for two...and both shall row, My Love and I...."Mary was truly my life partner! We met when she was eleven and I was 14, and we grew-up together," explained Cox. "I've learned to grieve through my music!"

 

 

As you can see, Ronny Cox brings his own heart and soul to a performance and captivates his audience with personal pieces of his life. With Father's Day upcoming, a few days after his Winnsboro performance, Cox ended his first half of the show with "A Man Needs A Hero," a song that he dedicated to his father, who has long been deceased, but still holds a place in his heart. "Happy Father's Day, Dad!" announced Cox, as he laid down his guitar to begin visiting and answering questions from the audience.

Cox was accompanied in Winnsboro by two equally talented musicians, Will Taylor of Austin and Karen Mal, also a talented singer, who makes her home in Austin, too.

 

 

Will Taylor, of Austin, Texas, a very talented musician in his own rite, accompanied Cox on
all the instrumentals. Here he plays a "mighty mean" fiddle.

Karen Mal, also of Austin, blended her musical talents and provided
the female vocals to the show. She was most especially poignant when
she lent her voice to "Sanctuary," as she performed with Cox.

 

 

 

The trio were certainly a delight and merit your notice anytime they have a performance in Northeast Texas, or within your driving distance. They will make you proud you took the time to listen to their brand of music and shared a "slice of life" with them, on a summer evening.

"It's awfully hard for me to realize that Cox is the same man that played the guitar, then piloted the rafts down the river in that ficticious journey, on the Chatanooga River, back in 1972!" exclaimed a member of the audience. "Anyone that witnessed James Dickey and company in Deliverance, will always remember "the pig squeal scene" and as the movie ends with the little Church of Christ being moved out of the valley, before the landscaped is covered with water. However, the haunting final scene, as the credits roll, of the hand, that surfaces in the water, is sure to have the most potent "stick-a-bility" of the classic movie set in the South, of the 1970's!"

 

Cox visits with Sulphur Springs dentist, Paul Bennett, during the intermission of the show.

 

All of Cox's music can be accessed at his website: www.ronnycox.com. Cox had just drove from Fredericksbug, Texas, and was soon to leave for a tour of his music in Ireland, so you best take advantage of his appearances, when you can find him close to home!

 

 

And, if you haven't had enough of good ol' Southern Hospitality, try this recipe that is Southern, thru and thru, and "uses up" some of those green tomatoes from the garden!

 

 

 

Green Tomato Pound Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup chopped Walnuts
2 cups sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 cups chopped Green Tomatoes
Powdered Sugar for dusting

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a bundt pan with non-stick baking spray and set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, eggs, oil, baking soda,
cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and walnuts.
Mixture will be very thick.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and bake for approximately
1 hour in the pre-heated oven. Cake should be brown on top and
pulling away from the pan.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan, before removing it,
to prevent it from "falling."

You can then dust the cake with the powdered sugar, and serve.

Cake is also delicious served with a brown sugar and walnut glaze.

Enjoy!

 

 

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