Russ Cox evokes the Old West in his stories, songs, and art. The fifth-generation Texan has appeared in movies and performed music around the hill country since 1968. Photo by Phil Houseal

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Russ Cox: Another Good Story

by Phil Houseal
Nov 21, 2007

"This is a good story...."

A chat with Russ Cox is a tumble into a wonderland of stories and tales of a career laced with characters larger than life - starting with himself.

"Have a seat, by golly," he said, his face etched in a perpetual grin framed by burnished cheeks. "Ask me everything."

So I asked how Russ Cox would describe Russ Cox - a cowboy poet, singer of western songs, character actor?

"I don't know," he replied, "I'm always leery of saying I'm an artist, but that is probably what I ought to do. I'm better at painting than anything."

The Texas native ("fifth generation on my mom's side; third on my dad's") grew up in Houston, where he aspired to be an artist in the vein of Charlie Russell. Cox described Russell as one of his heroes, because "he was a cowboy first, and a painter after."

Cox is a cowboy, first, last, and always. He came to the Hill Country in '68. You could easily assume it was 1868, watching him strum his guitar, wearing high boots, cotton breeches, vest, collarless shirt, and wide-brimmed cowboy hat. The circumstances around Cox leaving Houston hinted at another story - something about escaping the love of an oilman's daughter.

"She was older, but I fell smooth in love with her," he said. "I didn't want to leave, but I had to..." He trailed off, then launched into a tale about his first job with another legend: Hondo Crouch.

"Hondo was 'notoriously thrifty,'" Cox remembered. "He'd send me to Stein Lumber, so I could buy #3 grade lumber that was warped and full of knots. I put one of those biggest boards on the top of a gate, and using a horseshoe rasp, a screwdriver, and a hammer, I chiseled an Alamo-style top on the wide board. When Hondo came back on Sunday to see how it was going, we went down to the back pasture where the new gate was. He pulls up, with a big old plug of tobacco in his mouth, and says, 'Looks like the horses chewed it.' Arghhh... he got me!"

Cox laughed.

He is not sure what caused his affinity for the old west. It goes as far back as he can remember.

"I always had it," he said. "There are pictures of me in elementary school that show I dress now like I did then. I had to have my ma make up some of those bib front shirts."

Cox's avocation has brought him to the attention of Hollywood producers who come looking for authentic western props and characters. Cox has supplied wagons, hats, clothes, and equipment to several production companies, appeared as an extra, and had speaking parts in four or five movies. He was a featured player in The Wind and the Lion, with Sean Connery and Candice Bergan ("I played the Marine sergeant who gets winged in the arm").

These days Cox "builds fires, and cuts taters and onions" in between singing at events with Bill Walding, who sets up a chuckwagon for private parties and public events.

"I usually stick with old, old cowboy songs," he explained. "When I learn a new song it might be new to me but it might have been written in 1908."

He grins, and starts singing one he wrote called "Hondo's Hat."

We're not sure why she did it
We don't know where it's at
We only know one night at the dance
Some gal took Hondo's hat...

...If she'd a known what it meant to him
She'd a left that battered hat

Cause his hat was his friend
Through many a mile
Through many a song and beer
Now the one so precious to him
Is just someone's souvenir

If only she'd return it
I'd get her one that fit
After all what good is Hondo's hat
Without Hondo under it?*

The crowd claps. Cox grins.

"Here's another good story..."

XXX

(*Hondo's Hat, words and music by Russ Cox, used by permission)