Editing Inez and Charlie Foxx

{{Short description|American R&B and soul duo}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Inez & Charlie Foxx
| image            = 
| caption          = 
| background       = group_or_band
| origin           = [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], United States
| genre            = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[soul music|soul]]
| years_active     = 1963–1971 (as duo)
| label            = [[Symbol Records|Symbol]], [[Musicor Records|Musicor]], Dynamo, [[Volt Records|Volt]], [[United Artists Records|United Artists]], [[Stateside Records|Stateside]]
| associated_acts  = [[Luther Dixon]]
| past_members     = Inez Foxx<br>Charlie Foxx
}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Inez Foxx
| image         = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = Inez Rebecca Fox
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1937|09|09|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|2022|08|25|1937|09|09|mf=y}} 
| death_place   = [[Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| nationality   = 
| other_names   = Inez Johnston
| occupation    = 
| years_active  = 
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = 
}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Charlie Foxx
| image         = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = Charlie James Fox
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|1933|10|23|mf=y}}
| birth_place   = [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date    = {{Death date and age|1998|09|18|1933|10|23|mf=y}} 
| death_place   = [[Mobile, Alabama]], U.S.
| nationality   = 
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = 
| years_active  = 
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = 
}}

'''Inez Foxx''' (September 9, 1937 – August 25, 2022) and her elder brother '''Charlie Foxx''' (October 23, 1933 – September 18, 1998) were an American [[rhythm and blues]] and [[soul music|soul]] [[duet (music)|duo]] from [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]], [[North Carolina]]. Inez sang lead [[human voice|vocal]], while Charlie sang [[backing vocalist|backing vocals]] and played [[guitar]].<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|author=Ron Wynn |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/inez-charlie-foxx-mn0000107240/biography |title=Inez & Charlie Foxx &#124; Biography |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=2015-08-18}}</ref> [[Casey Kasem]], and doubtless many others, mistakenly thought that the two were husband and wife.<ref>[[American Top 40]], 16 February 1974.</ref>

==Biography==
Both children were born in Greensboro to John and Peggy Fox. According to published information in the North Carolina Birth Index, and the U.S. census, Charlie James Fox was born in 1933 and Inez Rebecca Fox in 1937, though subsequent publicity indicated later birth years for both siblings.<ref>North Carolina Birth Index, Fox, Charlie James: Book 21 page 941</ref><ref>Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950: Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Greensboro, Guilford, North Carolina; Roll: 5671; Sheet Number: 7; Enumeration District: 104-46</ref> They changed their professional names to Foxx with a double 'x'.

Charlie Foxx began singing with a gospel choir as a child in the early 1950s, and was later joined by his sister Inez. In 1960, Inez traveled to [[New York City]] and recorded for [[Brunswick Records]] using her then-married name '''Inez Johnston''', but with little success. In early 1963, the pair introduced themselves to [[Juggy Murray|Henry 'Juggy' Murray]], the owner of [[Sue Records]], and sang him their arrangement of the traditional [[lullaby]] "[[Hush, Little Baby]]". The song, re-titled "[[Mockingbird (Inez & Charlie Foxx song)|Mockingbird]]," was released on Sue's subsidiary label [[Symbol Records]] in June 1963. The single reached the top 10 on both the US [[R&B chart|rhythm and blues]] and [[Billboard Hot 100|pop charts]].<ref name="wayback">{{cite web|url=http://www.waybackattack.com/foxxinez.html |title=Inez Foxx |publisher=Way Back Attack |date=2012-09-06 |access-date=2015-08-18}}</ref> It was their most successful [[gramophone record|record]], selling over one million copies, and was awarded a [[music recording sales certification|gold disc]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]].<ref name="The Book of Golden Discs">{{cite book
| first= Joseph
| last= Murrells
| year= 1978
| title= The Book of Golden Discs
| edition= 2nd
| publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd
| location= London
| page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/159 159]
| isbn= 0-214-20512-6
| url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/159
}}</ref> It was later [[cover version|covered]] by artists including [[Aretha Franklin]], [[James Taylor]] and [[Carly Simon]], [[Dusty Springfield]], [[Etta James]] with [[Taj Mahal (musician)|Taj Mahal]] and [[Toby Keith]].

The record company, keen to promote Inez Foxx as a solo singer, issued later recordings under her name alone, despite the presence of two voices on the records. Perhaps because "Mockingbird" was seen as a [[novelty record]], the pair had difficulty following it up, although "Ask Me" and "Hurt by Love" made the lower reaches of the US charts, and "Hurt by Love" also reached the [[UK singles chart]].<ref name=wayback/> In 1966, the pair joined [[Musicor Records]] and recorded for its subsidiary label, Dynamo. They returned to the pop charts in 1967 with "(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count the Days", and became known for their exciting live performances. They toured extensively in [[Europe]] and their music played a key role in the development of the [[Northern soul]] movement, in which scene they had the very popular "Tightrope" single.{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}

Inez Foxx married songwriter and producer [[Luther Dixon]] in the late 1960s. Together they wrote, and he produced, [[the Platters]]' mid-1960s return to hit-making with the single "I Love You 1000 Times".<ref name="guardian">{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/nov/11/luther-dixon-obituary |title= Luther Dixon obituary |work= [[The Guardian]] |publisher= Guardian.co.uk |date= 11 November 2009 |first= Garth |last= Cartwright }}</ref> Luther Dixon produced Inez and Charlie's 1967 Dynamo album ''Come By Here'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Inez-Charlie-Foxx-Come-By-Here/release/2673942 |title=Inez & Charlie Foxx* - Come By Here (Vinyl, LP) |year=1967 |publisher=Discogs.com |access-date=2015-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsnpubs.com/ua/dynamo.html |title=Dynamo Album Discography |publisher=Bsnpubs.com |date=2006-11-23 |access-date=2015-08-18}}</ref> but the couple later divorced.<ref name="guardian" />

Inez also had some success recording on her own, beginning in 1969, but her popularity faded in the 1970s. Charlie was already working as a songwriter and [[record producer]] when they finally disbanded their act. Inez continued to record as a solo singer for [[Volt Records]] in the 1970s.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=wayback/>

Charlie Foxx died from [[leukemia]] in 1998, at the age of 64,<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/12/arts/charlie-foxx-songwriter-and-musician-64.html "Charlie Foxx, Songwriter and Musician, 64", ''New York Times'', October 12, 1998]. Retrieved August 31, 2022</ref> and was buried in [[Mobile, Alabama]]. Inez Foxx died in Los Angeles on August 25, 2022, at the age of 84 (though some sources incorrectly stated her age as 79).<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10160068081220902&set=a.10150466658625902 Charles Cochran, ''Facebook'', August 26, 2022]. Retrieved September 6, 2022</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=RIP Inez Foxx, 79, Famed R&B Singer of the Original "Mockingbird" |url=https://www.showbiz411.com/2022/08/31/rip-inez-foxx-79-famed-rb-singer-of-the-original-mockingbird |access-date=1 September 2022 |publisher=Showbiz 411 |date=31 August 2022}}</ref>

==Discography==
===Chart singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Single
! colspan="3"| Chart Positions
|- style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:40px;"| [[Billboard Hot 100|US Pop]]<ref>{{cite book|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|year=2003|title=Top Pop Singles 1955-2002|edition=1st|publisher=Record Research Inc.|location=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin|isbn=0-89820-155-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/260 260]|url=https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whitbur/page/260}}</ref>
! style="width:40px;"| [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US<br>R&B]]<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=1996 |publisher=Record Research |page=156}}</ref>
! style="width:40px;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<ref name="betts">{{cite book| first= Graham| last= Betts| year=2004| title= Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004| edition= 1st|publisher= Collins| location= London| isbn= 0-00-717931-6| page=295}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1963
| style="text-align:left;"| "[[Mockingbird (Inez & Charlie Foxx song)|Mockingbird]]"
| 7
| 2
| -
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Hi Diddle Diddle"<br><small>Inez Foxx</small>
| 98
| -<ref name=note>No ''Billboard'' R&B chart was published during this period</ref>
| -
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1964
| style="text-align:left;"| "Ask Me"<br><small>Inez Foxx</small>
| 91
| -<ref name=note/>
| -
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "Hurt By Love"<br><small>Inez Foxx</small>
| 54
| -<ref name=note/>
| 40
|-
|| 1966
| style="text-align:left;"| "No Stranger To Love"
| -
| 49
| -
|-
| rowspan="3"| 1967
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Stand Accused"
| 127
| 41
| -
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "You Are The Man"
| -
| 32
| -
|-
| style="text-align:left;"| "(1-2-3-4-5-6-7) Count The Days"
| 76
| 17
| -
|-
|| 1969
| style="text-align:left;"| "Mockingbird" <small>(reissue)</small>
| -
| -
| 33
|-
|| 1973
| style="text-align:left;"| "I Had A Talk With My Man"<br><small>Inez Foxx</small>
| -
| 74
| -
|-
|| 1974
| style="text-align:left;"| "Circuit's Overloaded"<br><small>Inez Foxx</small>
| -
| 83
| -
|}

===Albums===
* ''Mockingbird'' (1964)
* ''Come By Here'' (1967)
* ''Greatest Hits'' (1968)
* ''Inez & Charlie Foxx's Swinging Mockin' Band'' (1968) (instrumental album featuring Inez & Charlie Foxx's backing band)
* ''Inez Foxx At Memphis'' (1973) (Inez Foxx solo album)
* ''Inez & Charlie Foxx'' (1983)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/ifoxx.htm Inez & Charlie Foxx] at Soulful Kinda Music
{{Authority control|additional=Q15449213,Q109832907}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Foxx, Inez And Charlie}}
[[Category:African-American musical duos]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups]]
[[Category:Male–female musical duos]]
[[Category:Sibling musical duos]]
[[Category:RCA Records artists]]
[[Category:Stateside Records artists]]
[[Category:Sue Records artists]]
[[Category:United Artists Records artists]]
[[Category:Musical duos from North Carolina]]
[[Category:Northern soul musicians]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:1971 disestablishments in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1963]]
[[Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1971]]
[[Category:Rhythm and blues duos]]
[[Category:American soul musical groups]]