Jimmy Cox

American African-American songwriter famous for writing “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” in 1923.
Born July 28, 1882 in Richmond, Virginia, USA.
Died March 3, 1925 in Washington, D.C, USA.
Cox was a well-known vaudeville entertainer, comedian and theatre manager before becoming known more for his songs. On stage, he was known as “the black Charlie Chaplin”. He was also known as Jimmie Cox.

Fox composed his best known song “Nobody...” in 1923 and performed it on stage himself. The song was first recorded in 1923 by Blind Bobby Baker and His Guitar but became very well known once Bessie Smith had a hit with it in 1929. Other well-received versions include by Nina Simone (1960, #93 in the U.S., #23 R&B), Damita Jo (1965, #30 adult contemporary), and Bobbie Womack (1973, #29 in the U.S., #2 on the R&B charts).

Jimmy Cox’s daughter, Gertrude “Baby” Cox, sang with Duke Ellington’s orchestra in 1928. His daughter and his wife Anna Mae Cox performed with him on stage (sometimes called ‘The Cox Trio”) in vaudeville, beginning in Atlanta, Georgia but quickly branching out all over the south.