English singer-songwriter
Peter Cox |
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| Birth name | Peter John Cox |
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| Born | (1955-11-17) 17 November 1955 (age 68)
Kingston upon Thames |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
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| Years active | 1978–present |
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| Labels | |
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| Member of | Go West |
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| Website | petercox.live |
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Musical artist
Peter John Cox (born 17 November 1955)[1] is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the English pop duo Go West. As a solo artist, he scored three top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart in the 1990s.
Early career and Go West
Peter John Cox sang in his school choir and later as a chorister at The Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace. In his early twenties, he worked in a cover band for the Mecca Organisation.[citation needed] In 1978, he joined Terra Nova, a band put together by former Manfred Mann's Earth Band members Chris Slade and Colin Pattenden; they released an album in 1980.[2][better source needed] While in residency in a Sheffield nightclub, Cox began writing with longtime collaborator Richard Drummie, with whom he eventually signed a publishing deal.[citation needed]
In 1982, Cox and Drummie formed the band Go West, with Cox as lead vocalist and Drummie on guitar and backing vocals.[3][4] After Go West signed a deal with Chrysalis Records, "We Close Our Eyes" became a top 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart in 1985.[5] Other Go West singles released that year included "Call Me" (1985) and "Don't Look Down". The following year, Go West was named 'Best Newcomer' at the 1986 Brit Awards.[6]
In 1987, the band reached the top 40 in the US with the single "Don't Look Down – The Sequel".[7] In 1990, Go West had a No. 8 hit in the US with "King of Wishful Thinking" from the film Pretty Woman.[8] In 1992, the duo released their third studio album Indian Summer, which included "Faithful"; the song reached the top 20 in Canada and the United States.[9]
Solo career
Cox moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to pursue a solo career.[10] His self-titled debut studio album, Peter Cox, was released in 1997 to critical acclaim.[citation needed] Subsequent albums include Flame Still Burns (2001), Nine Miles High (2002), Desert Blooms (2002), Game for Fools (2005) and Motor City Music (2006). Cox also teamed up with Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet on the album Tony Hadley vs Peter Cox & Go West, released in 2004.[citation needed]
In 2003, Cox replaced Then Jerico's Mark Shaw on the British reality television show Reborn in the USA after Shaw quit the series in the show's first few days. Even though Cox had achieved previous success across the Atlantic as the lead vocalist of Go West, he was able to appear on the show as he was unknown in the US as a solo artist. He was a favourite to win but was voted off in New York after he forgot the lyrics to the Norah Jones hit he was performing.[11]
Other albums by Cox include The S1 Sessions (2010), Riding the Blinds (2012), and Damn the Brakes (2013).[citation needed]
Cox's voice has been described as "smooth as silk" with a "gritty underbelly".[12]
