Billy Cox to Be Honored with Experience Music Project's (EMP) Founder Award on October 9, 2010 in Seattle

Experience Music Project (EMP) is proud to honor legendary bass player Billy Cox at its 4th Annual Founders Award Celebration, which will be held Saturday, October 9, 2010. Proceeds from EMP's Founders Award benefit the museum's youth education programs, annually serving more than 40,000 local schoolchildren.

EMP's Founders Award is presented to artists who have made outstanding contributions in popular music. In honor of its 10th anniversary year, EMP is particularly pleased to present the 2010 Founders Award to Billy Cox in recognition of his work preserving and celebrating the legacy of Jimi Hendrix.

Cox, considered one of the most influential bassists in the world, first teamed up with Jimi Hendrix in the early 1960's in the R&B group King Kasuals, and years later reunited with him in Band of Gypsys.

Billy Cox met Jimi Hendrix in 1961 when the two were serving in the U.S. Army's 101^st Airborne Division. Bonding over their love of music, they formed the King Kasuals, playing R&B in and around Nashville. In 1966, when Hendrix landed in London and began forming the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Billy Cox was his first choice as a bass player. Billy, however, declined, preferring to explore his own musical path, performing in bands along the southern Chitlin' Circuit. In 1969, the two reunited when Hendrix asked Cox to join his new band - Gypsy Suns and Rainbows - which debuted at the legendary Woodstock concert on August 18, 1969. Soon after, Cox and Hendrix, with the addition of drummer Buddy Miles, formed the iconic Band of Gypsys, electrifying audiences with the true spirit of the Blues. In addition to the Band of Gypsys release, Cox can be heard on such posthumously released Hendrix albums including South Saturn Delta, Live at Woodstock, Live at the Fillmore East, Nine to the Universe, and a reconstructed version of First Rays of the New Rising Sun.In 2009, Cox was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. He continues to write, perform and record music, currently touring with Experience Hendrix, collaborating with some of the world's most celebrated guitarists.Since Hendrix's death in 1970, Cox has continued working with an array of musicians, among them Charlie Daniels, Bruce Cameron and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Cox lives in Nashville, Tennessee, performing, recording and acting as an ambassador for Hendrix, his music and philosophy. He has been the anchor of the Experience Hendrix Tribute Tours including the 2010 Tour that kicks off on October 26 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has him collaborating with Kenny Wayne Shepard, Steve Vai, Susan Tedeschi and Jonny Lang.

The Founders Award celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. Special guest performers honoring Billy Cox include guitar great Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band - Chris Layton, drums, Scott Nelson, bass, Noah Hunt, vocals - as well as singer-songwriter and guitarist Orianthi Panagaris and students from EMP's Rock Band camp. They will perform music from the Band of Gypsy's songbook and other classic Hendrix hits. A limited number of tickets are available and begin at $325.

EMP's Founders Award is an annual event recognizing individuals who have made outstanding contributions to popular music. Museum founders Paul G. Allen and Jo Lynn Allen are honorary event co-chairs. Proceeds from the fundraiser benefit EMP's youth education programs including school field trips, educator resource development, summer camps and scholarship programs. The 2010 Founders Award Celebration is sponsored by J.P. Morgan.

The event will be held at the Sky Church at EMP Ticketing Information: Individual tickets feature cocktail and hors d'oeuvres reception, dinner, tribute concert and Late Night Lounge.

Information provided by Experience Music Project.