Barbara Cox has been hearing music in her head and dreams ever since she grew up in Marshall with 15 siblings. This year, she re-released two of her songs and recorded them marking her 52nd single released in her 25 years as an artist.
Cox grew up in East Texas and still lives in the area with her husband, and her children attend schools in Tyler. She said her musical journey began when she sang in the choir at the local St. John the Baptist Church, where she performed with her sisters.
“It was never an option for us and we never thought about it. If you were in our family, you were in the choir,” she recalled.
Afterwards, Cox said he wanted to continue playing music and encouraged his brothers to start recording songs together. However, she was the only one who was interested in pursuing music further than the church choir.
Cox said she was undeterred by the setback.
“That's when I realized that everything I needed was within me,” she explained.
After discovering that he not only heard music in his head, but also had a talent for playing it, Cox said he began a journey to pursue his music and bring it to the masses.
This year, Cox released her 51st single, “Color Them Beautiful.” This song is about mental health and treating everyone with kindness and grace.
Cox said the song is always about holding each other and uplifting each other. Because you never know what someone is facing in their life.
“We need to be careful how we treat each other, and I hope this song really highlights that,” she said.
And on February 1st of this year, Cox released her 52nd single, “My Fight Song,” and also celebrated her birthday on the same day.
“It's also a birthday present, which is when we released it, but it's mainly about fighting back to find yourself,” she said.
Cox said the song came to her during a difficult time in her life when she was fighting both physically and mentally to get back to who she wanted to be. Throughout these challenges, Cox said the song was playing in her head, and she hopes it will inspire others to overcome their enemies just as it inspired her. He said he hopes he will.
“Sometimes you have to fight, and there are battles you don't always see, but this song is about perseverance and overcoming,” she said.
Cox's music is available across all platforms for community members to listen to and enjoy. She added that the community can expect more from her in the coming years, with over 300 songs prepared and waiting to be recorded for the public.
Cox will also return to Marshall later this month to perform at the Black History Month Parade and Festival scheduled for February 24 in downtown Marshall, scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“I'm so happy that I got the call to come back and perform in my hometown. I love going back to my hometown, so I want to do more,” she said.
