Ashley Cox

In the same way that Ani DiFranco has brought attention to her hometown of Buffalo, singer/songwriter Ashley Cox has helped to establish the music scene in Syracuse, NY. The winner of a Syracuse Area Music Award (SAMMY) as Best New Artist of 1997, Cox has been embraced by women's music enthusiasts. Raised on her father's collection of King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Fripp & Eno, the Police, the Roches, the Beatles, and Peter Gabriel records, Cox honed her craft as a street performer and during folk music coffeehouse open mics. Moving to North Carolina in the early '90s, Cox was soon performing regularly at Catawba College in Salisbury. As word of her talents spread, she acquired weekly gigs in Charlotte and Wilmington. Since returning to Syracuse, Cox has increasingly captured the city with her gutsy, multi-octave, vocals. She released her debut album, As Above So Below, on her own label, Ladybug, in spring 2000. Cox has recorded with Syracuse-based alternative rock band the Fun Lovin' Criminals. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi