As 2023 draws to a close, it also heralds a momentous peak in
the realms of budding drummers and voice actors as LarryCoxRocks.com
unveils its long-anticipated website. Veteran drummer and voice actor Larry Cox
has initiated this groundbreaking platform committed to fostering talent in
these competitive domains. The website and its contents are meticulously crafted
to guide aspiring individuals toward establishing a professional drumming or
voice-acting career.
After a drumming and concurrent voice acting career spanning
four decades, Cox combines a harmonious blend of passion and precision, making
Larry Cox Rocks the go-to destination for individuals driven by the beat of
drums or the resonance of their vocal cords. The platform ready to transform
how aspiring talents hone their skills and embark on a journey toward
professional success.
It's been quite some time since I've spoken with Larry and
posted reviews of albums for his bands Deaf Symphony and Kick Tommy. Still, I
recently caught up with him for a quick Q&A regarding some background about
his long career and his desire to embark on this latest project:
KH: So, I understand this website
project is the culmination of something you've wanted to do since the late
1990s; tell me a little about that.
LC: That's right, Keith. My dream has
always been to create instructional and career guidance media, but I was too
busy throughout my career for such a time-consuming endeavor. Now that I've
been mostly retired from mainstream work, I finally had the time to fulfill
that dream.
KH: Which came first as a profession,
the drumming or the voice acting?
LC: The drumming. My first pro gig
was in 1985 with a band called Looker, based in Buffalo, New York. We started
out playing clubs, you know, the routine for a band. Then we got a financial
backer and recorded an album, got picked up by a promoter, and ended up touring
for about a year, opening for Steppenwolf, Kenny Loggins, and Cheap Trick
during that year. It was a great first experience.
KH: How long did that last?
LC: Just that one year, and like most
bands, we broke up. So, I headed for Los Angeles to take advantage of my
connections with Looker that year.
KH: From our initial conversation, it
sounded like things happened quickly for you in LA; tell me about that.
LC: Yes, that's true; things happened
pretty fast. I was introduced to an agent who got me gigs with some reasonably
popular bands on the LA club circuit, which was hopping back then. There were
so many venues for original music back then that you could gig somewhere three
to five times a week. And since I was playing with two bands, I was busy.
Anyway, one thing led to another, and my exposure got me into the studio, not
only with the bands I was playing with but with other bands and singers
recording demos for the record labels, which was crazy back then.
KH: They were signing bands left and
right in the eighties.
LC: Absolutely. So, during the late
eighties, I ended up recording with a couple of great vocalists, trying to get
record deals, and eventually went on to great things later. One was Johnny
Edwards, who eventually went on to sing with Foreigner on their Unusual Heat album. The
other was Jeff Scott Soto, who had already sung with Yngwie Malmsteen then, which
was super exciting for me. Jeff went on to big things eventually.
KH: Jeff is a monster vocalist, and
his recent stuff with Sons of Apollo is top-notch.
LC: He was a great dude and one of my
favorite to work with. Have you ever looked at his Wikipedia page?
KH: No, I haven't. Is it a good read?
LC: Oh man, the bands he has been
part of are one thing, but the list of guest appearances as lead vocalist and
backing vocalist is stunning.
KH: I'll have to check it out. Was
all of this around the same time you played with Joshua?
LC: I joined Joshua in 1988 and
recorded and played live with them until 1991. It's a great band, and Joshua
Perahia is one of the most amazing guitarists in the world. I can't believe
that things fizzled out for him; he should have become a household name among
musicians.
KH: So, it's almost three years with
Joshua. What happened?
LC: Well, it's a long story that I
don't want to get into in detail, but it was a sad, sad scenario because I
thought we were going to be huge. We were on the verge of a deal with Warner
Brothers, and our music attorney Stan Diamond, a legend in the music business,
said we were going to be the next Journey. As we were recording demos for
Warner, the singer had an epiphany that he needed to start singing Christian
music and wanted to rewrite the lyrics to the songs; I mean, right then and
there, while we were in the studio. Warner said, "That's not going to happen,"
the singer quit, and everything fell apart within a couple of days. I was
devastated.
KH: Damn, that had to be
heartbreaking.
LC: Oh, big time. I was ready to hang
it up. However, at that time, I was getting busy with session work, I mean
swamped. So, since I had no band at that moment, I gobbled up every session I
could, jingles, soundtracks for movies, television, and video games, artist
demos for record labels, and so many other things. It was a great time being a
session player.
KH: How many sessions would you say
you've done in your career?
LC: Oh shit, there's no record of
that, but thousands, thousands for sure. I still do them almost thirty years
later; who could keep count? I wish that I would have kept a ledger, you know,
but when the money keeps rolling in, your so damn busy, family life and life in
general, who thinks to keep count, you know? You keep doing what you do, and
the next thing you know, thirty years have gone by! And with that kind of work,
you remain anonymous, so there's no media attention or records for anyone to
pull up like with mainstream recording artists.
KH: Sure, I get it. That's amazing.
And then you have a guy that plays drums on three albums with his band, and
he's a household name.
LC: (laughter) Right? (more
laughter).
KH: So when did the voice acting
thing come along, and how did that come about?
LC: I had been doing voices all my
life. I was a huge fan of Mel Blanc, the guy that did all the Looney Tunes and
Merry Melodies stuff in the sixties and seventies, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck,
Sylvester and Tweety, and so much other stuff, so much. Most people have not
learned how many characters he voiced in his long career. I wanted to be that
guy! So, when a connection of mine in the music business heard me doing some
voices during a drum recording session in 1999, he was like, "Bro, how
come you are not a voice actor?" And he knew a guy, so he hooked me up,
and it took off from there. Crazy. That was the beginning of juggling two
separate careers for the duration.
KH: Wow, people are trying to get one
career off the ground, and you've been slamming two virtually impossible jobs
to get into.
LC: (laughter) Hey, don't be hatin'
(laughter).
KH: Okay,
you've had a super busy career, so what led you to this current project when
most folks would simply be enjoying retirement and cocktails on the beach?
LC: (laughter)
I take my laptop to the beach! (laughter). Even though I am still doing select
drumming and voice work in my retirement, this stage of my life finally allowed
me the time to put together content dedicated to helping others pursue such
careers. It's a labor of love for me, so it feels like something other than
work. It's more like my retirement hobby; that's how I see it and feel, and the
same is true with motivational speaking and drum clinic events. They are both
things that I love to do. The moment you sit around waiting for the end, the
Grim Reaper detours to your doorstep.
For budding drummers and voice actors, Larry Cox Rocks is where
dreams take center stage. The site offers a diverse haven to access a treasure
trove of resources designed to elevate their craft. The site hosts a wide
variety of instructional media, tutorials, guidance material, and personal
coaching options, as well as several podcasts covering different subjects.
Whether just starting or looking to expand upon one's talent, the platform
provides a comprehensive guide for beginner and seasoned skills.
One of the standout features of the website is the capability
for members to request personalized coaching sessions that focus on specific
areas of interest, along with the ability to communicate directly with me. So,
whether you're just starting or looking to finesse your technique, Larry Cox
Rocks provides an immersive learning experience that transcends physical and
geographical boundaries, connecting aspiring talent with a seasoned veteran
whose drumming and voice acting career has spanned four decades.
Beyond the educational aspects of the site, the platform offers
in-person social engagement with Larry Cox through clinics, workshops, and
motivational speaking. Such forums allow groups of like-minded individuals to
engage in group learning and vibrant discussions and to interact through
real-time education that transcends virtual boundaries — adding an extra layer
of excitement and fostering a sense of camaraderie among participants.
"I believe in the transformative abilities that I possess with my many years of experience," says Cox. "My mission is to empower aspiring drummers and voice actors, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to turn their passions into professions. Launching my website is a significant step towards realizing this vision."
Larry Cox Rocks is a visionary platform dedicated to
nurturing drumming and voice-acting talent. With a commitment to education,
motivation, and inspiration, Larry Cox Rocks is poised to become a terrific
launchpad for aspiring drummers and voice actors everywhere.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jonathan Beacon
Artist Relations Manager
artists@cnsenterprises.com
Connect with Larry:
Official Website: LarryCoxRocks.com
Lori’s medicine is a non-profit called “The Beat of Life” and it is such an amazing project, with a large number of talented people from through out the various communities giving of themselves to help others in need. The project consists of teams of accomplished musicians and singer/songwriters that work with individual groups, like adults challenged with illnesses of various kinds, those challenged in the legal system, children struggling with abuse and/or bullying, and then take these real life situations turning them into compelling and thought-provoking songs.
“The Beat of Life” touches many areas in it’s musical out reach. Lori and the dedicated group of volunteers visit local corrections facilities for men and women and bring the prisoners into the craft of writing songs, “Redemption Songs”, from their own life experiences. Support like one of their own most valuable players, Steve Bryant Chief Operating Officer for The Beat of Life. The songs are used as music therapy to help those incarcerated in using their life experiences to heal and recover. They would then apply the results of music therapy to being able to once again join the community in a positive way. The program has worked so well that there have talks about expanding it further and in to other facilities.
As Director of Programs, Lori knows the work that goes into this project helps to embolden those who have been brought down by many of life’s struggles and how to use it in a more positive way. This is an amazing project that has not only encouraged those in recovery, in abusive situations, and struggling with low self esteem or bullying to take back their lives, but to use their words to create a musical expression that would encourage healing. The writers round/space where all the magic happens is called The Workshop and you can check it out here;