Johnny Cox

John Robin (Johnny “Dumplin”) Cox was born in Williamson, WVa. on May 5th, 1957. He started playing guitar at age 8 but lost interest in music until he heard a pedal steel guitar.

When his family relocatated to Nashville, TN. in 1967, Johnny got his first steel. It was a home built 8 string non-pedal given to him by a family friend. By 1970, Johnny was playing with local school bands and shows around Nashville.

In 1972, he began his professional career doing a weekend trip with Opry Stars, Lonzo and Oscar. That summer, he toured with Ernest Flatt doing one week stands at clubs and hotel lounges.

In December of 1972, Johnny landed a job with Grand Ole Opry star, Del Reeves. Thoughout the years Johnny worked the road, the Grand Ole Opry and recorded with such artist as ‪Del, The Singing Rambos, ‪Roy Drusky‬, ‪Jim Ed Brown‬, ‪Cal Smith‬, ‪Ernest Tubb‬, ‪Charlie Louvin‬, Jimmy C. Newmen, ‪Connie Smith‬ and was an original member of The Time Jumpers.

In 2003, Johnny moved to the Dallas area to join the team as a builder at MSA Steel Guitars. Johnny helped develop the MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro pedal steel guitars.

While in Texas, he has played with ‪Ray Price‬, ‪Johnny Bush‬, Jody Nix, Jason Roberts, Justin Trevino Billy Mata others, The Texas Playboys, Gene Watson, Heybale and others. He also worked for Mel Tillis three different times and was Mel’s last steel player.

Johnny now resides in Hallettsville, TX. with his wife Kayla. He plays for Jody Nix, among others.

Johnny operates the Sho-Bud Texas  facility building the new line of Sho-Bud Pedal Steel Guitars and repairing all brands of steel guitars.

He was inducted into the Texas Steel Guitar Association Hall Of Fame in 2023. He has also developed his own tuning, a D13th that combines the E9th, C6th, and E13th tunings into one 12 string universal, yet complete tuning and pedal setup.

• 1968 Sho-Bud Permanent D10, 1974 Sho-Bud Pro II Custom D10, 1974 Sho-Bud Pro II D-12.
• Sho-Bud Single Channel amps, Sho-Bud volume pedal.