Born near Charleston, Cox learned guitar and harmonica as a boy and began performing on local radio in 1928. He recorded around 150 songs, including hits like "Sparkling Brown Eyes" and "Filipino Baby," which became country music classics.

Cox often sang with Cliff Hobbs in a popular duet. Some of his songs supported President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Known as the "Dixie Songbird," he also recorded old British ballads. Sadly, his wild lifestyle kept him from finding lasting success, and he died in poverty.