Pentangle Drummer Terry Cox Dies at 89

The British group Pentangle has announced the death of founding drummer Terry Cox. He was 89.

The news was confirmed today via the band’s official social media accounts. No cause of death was given. Cox had celebrated his birthday earlier this month.

As a core member of the pioneering folk-jazz ensemble, Cox’s nuanced, jazz-informed percussion was integral to Pentangle’s sound. His playing provided a fluid, sophisticated rhythmic foundation that distinguished the group’s landmark late-1960s and early-1970s work, bridging traditional folk with complex improvisation.

In a statement, the band described him as “one of Pentangle’s five points of light a drummer of rare instinct.” His contribution remains a definitive element of a catalog that continues to influence contemporary folk and beyond.