Born in the early 1950's In Muskeygon Michigan, Big daddy Fox discovered his love of music at the age of Seven years old when he heard Cecil Fisher at a house party,The minute Big Daddy Heard the music coming from that party he knew what he should be doing.

Big Daddy Fox spent the next few months listening and absorbing as much of the mid 60's rock n roll bands as he could, groups such as Bo Diddley, Sam Cooke, BB King and James Brown drove his craving to become part of this budding music scene.

The artist that had the biggest impact On him was Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

Big Daddy's mama got him his very first guitar that same year, it was a Sears Silver Tone. In the summer of 1964 Big Daddy spent part of his summer vacation in the "historic African American resort" Idlewild Michigan. In Idlewild's prime it was the premiere vacation spot for black Americans, entertainers and writers. Big Daddy was able to cut his teeth with some of the remaining local musicians playing at the lake, and the park.

Big Daddy spent the next few years learning the guitar and played with neighborhood kids in basements, house parties, and churches. He was so obsessed with the Guitar he even slept with it in his bed every night.

In 1969 while part of the nation was "groovin" at Woodstock and part was protesting the Vietnam war, Big Daddy was playing with rock n roll bands at Highschool dances, & local outdoor events.

Shortly after Big Daddy's 17th birthday in 1973 Big Daddy traveled the "Chitlin Circuit" with a number of bands.

In 1974 Big Daddy joined the band Jakki and they toured disco clubs in New York City.
Jakki played a number of clubs all around New York City and was made the house band for a club in NYC.

Jakki managed to get into a recording studio and recorded their first single called
"Sun Sun Sun"

In the summer of 1976 Big Daddy Fox & Jakki's song "Sun Sun Sun" was featured on Dick Clark's American Bandstand during the famous "Rate A Record" segment, it won (To hear the song click here)

Dispite the band getting national exposure with "Sun Sun Sun" the record went nowhere, but Jakki continued to work through the late 70's until in 1978 when the band went their separate ways, and Big Daddy left the band and headed down south.

In 1978 at the age of 23, Big Daddy ended up down south with the legendary Gospel Artists Willie Banks & The Messengers. He toured church halls and church basements and high schools all over the south between 1978 - 1979 until Big Daddy decided he had enough of the contentious letdowns he kept getting with the music world and it was time for him to return home To Muskeygon Michigan and leave the music world behind.

During the next 20 years Big Daddy got married and raised a family and from time to time would play with his friends in a gospel band "The Gospel Tornados"

Toward the end of 1999 on the eve of the new Millennium Big Daddy Fox decided to take his first mainstream gig in over 20 years, now at the age of 43 Big Daddy Fox was booked to play on a riverboat barge in Greenville Mississippi for the New Millennium Celebration.

In attendance at the show was the Legendary Blues Harp Player Willie Foster, Mr. Foster was brought onto the riverboat via a wheelchair to see this "new" young guitar player he had heard so much about.

After Big Daddy's Performance He met with Willie Foster who then compared Big Daddy to a young B.B.King who once played in one of Willie's bands. Willie Told Big Daddy that the blues scene needed him now more then ever and he should come out of retirement and get back to where he belonged.

In 2000, after 20 years of a self imposed retirement Big Daddy Fox set out to once again rejoin the R&B , Soul, And Blues music world, He worked a series of local gigs in his home town of Muskeygon Michigan. He played at such clubs as, The Blue Note, Billys, Heritage Landing and the African American Festival in Grand Rapids Michigan.

In Oct of 2000 Big Daddy Was hired to play at the Blues Sunday event in Northern Michigan, where he met former disc jockey and concert promoter Steven Chantz.

Big Daddy And Steve started Idlewild Records as a promotional vehicle to promote Big Daddy Fox's return to the music business.

For the next year Big Daddy worked a series of events with his band The M.A.S, featuring Donny "The Herc" Hughgly, Sam "Yard-dog" Morgan & Dave "The Butcher" Alves.

In 2001, Big Daddy Traveled with Steve to Detroit Michigan for a series of solo promotional performances, Big Daddy sat in with local Detroit bands at, Memphis Smoke, The Hastings Street Ballroom & Bakers Keyboard Lounge.

Everywhere Big Daddy Went the crowds and musicians loved him, and it was said "Ain't No Party Like A Big Daddy Party"

In the summer of 2001 Big Daddy Fox was asked to play at a benefit concert in Irontone Springs Michigan, he was joined on stage by long time friend and musician Larry McCray.

It was also in the summer of 2001 when Big Daddy first made his presence on the internet and his original website was born.

In 2002, Big Daddy Fox & his manager decided that something needed to be done to bring awareness back to the historic resort Idlewild, so the two organized "The All New For 2002, Idlewild Reunion Tour" Held at the Red Rooster.

Big Daddy's Idlewild Concert marked the first of it's kind in over 20 years.

For information on Historic Idlewild Click Here

In the summer of 2003 Big Daddy Fox returned to the Blues Sunday Event in Northern Michigan, not as a performer bust as a visitor, when the locals saw him by 2nd stage they asked him to come sit in and play with them.

In the fall of 2003 Big Daddy Fox competed in the Detroit Blues Challenge at the Hastings Street Ballroom on the legendary Hastings Street In Detroit Mi.

In 2004, Big Daddy Fox appeared at the 3rd annual Mid North Michigan Blues Challenge at Streeters Ground Zero Lounge in Traverse City Michigan.

He also appeared at the Beer And Wine Festival in Mackinaw Michigan in September.

Big Daddy also worked almost every week at Billy's in Muskeygon.

In the summer of 2005 Big Daddy embarked on a marathon tour, playing almost 4 nights each week, stops on his tour included the 2nd Annual Alpena Blues Festival, The 1st Annual Empire Days Festival, and a reunion show with his gospel group The Gospel Tornados

Big Daddy also spent time in the studio producing more original songs including Snap, What You Crave, Fatty With Big Daddy and more.

In 2006 after 42 years in the Music business, Big Daddy Fox was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by The Mid North Michigan Blues Society, during their 2006 Blues Challenge fundraiser event at Streeters Ground Zero club In Traverse City Michigan.

Big Daddy honored the crowd with a special performance on stage with "The Krewe"

In the summer of 2007, Big Daddy's years of struggle and hard work finally paid off, as he competed in the 5th annual MNMBS Blues challenge held at The Odawa Casino Resort in Petoskey Michigan.

Big Daddy Took the stage with Codeblues & The Krewe and took the crowd by storm, by the end of the night the winning band was announced and it was Big Daddy Fox! Now Big Daddy Fox, Codeblues & The Krewe prepare to head to Memphis Tenn to compete in the International Blues Challenge.