Kyoko Chan Cox is the daughter of Japanese singer Yoko Ono and movie producer and jazz artiste, Anthony Cox.
Who is Anthony Cox?
Anthony Cox is best known for his work as a jazz bassist, having played with many notable musicians in the genre including Stan Getz, Jack DeJohnette, and Gary Burton. He also worked as a producer for jazz recordings and was involved in the avant-garde jazz scene in New York City in the 1970s. Cox born in the year 1936, is also credited as a composer on some of his recordings and collaborations.
About Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. She was born on February 18, 1933, in Tokyo, Japan. Her family was wealthy and influential, and she had a privileged upbringing. During World War II, she and her family experienced food shortages and air raids.
Ono attended school in Japan and the United States, studying music and philosophy. In 1952, she returned to Japan and became involved in the avant-garde art scene, collaborating with artists and musicians. In 1956, she moved to New York City and continued her artistic pursuits, participating in performance art and experimental music.
In the 1960s, Ono became known for her work in the Fluxus movement, a group of artists who sought to blur the line between art and everyday life. She also gained fame for her relationship with musician John Lennon, whom she married in 1969. The couple collaborated on music and activism, promoting peace and social justice.
Ono’s artistic output spans a wide range of media, including music, film, poetry, and visual art. Her works often incorporate elements of performance and audience participation. Some of her most famous works include the 1965 film “Bottoms,” which features a series of close-ups of human buttocks, and her 1966 book “Grapefruit,” a collection of conceptual art pieces.
In addition to her artistic work, Ono is an outspoken activist for peace and human rights. She has been involved in numerous campaigns and initiatives to promote nonviolence and social justice, and has been recognized for her contributions with numerous awards and honors.
Yoko Ono – Husbands and Children
Yoko Ono, the Japanese multimedia artist, was married twice in her lifetime. She had her first child, Kyoko Chan Cox, with American film producer and art promoter Anthony Cox in 1963.
Ono and John Lennon, the legendary musician and songwriter, married in 1969 after meeting three years earlier at an exhibition of Ono’s work in a London gallery.
Prior to their marriage, Lennon was already married to his first wife, Cynthia Powell. However, in May 1968, while Powell was on vacation, Lennon invited Ono to visit him. Powell returned home to find Ono wearing her bathrobe and drinking tea with Lennon. Together, Lennon and Ono shared one son, Sean Taro Ono Lennon, who is also a musician and songwriter.
Although the couple separated in 1973, they reconciled shortly after and remained married until Lennon’s tragic death in 1980. Ono has continued to work tirelessly to preserve Lennon’s legacy.
Today, at age 90, Ono continues to create art and advocate for peace and social justice. She remains a significant figure in contemporary art and culture, and her influence can be seen in the work of many artists and musicians.
Kyoko Chan Cox – Background and Ancestry
Kyoko Chan Cox born on August 8, 1963, comes from a family with a history of affluence and power, particularly on her mother’s side. Her great-maternal grandfather, Eijiro Ono, held prominent positions as the president of the Japan Industrial Bank and Kyoritsu Mining Company.
Kyoko’s maternal grandfather, Eisuke Ono, was a wealthy banker and a former classical pianist, while her maternal grandmother, Isoko Ono, was also musically talented and skilled in reading Japanese musical scores.
How Kyoko Chan Cox’s parents married, divorced and found other partners
Anthony Cox met Yoko Ono in the early 1960s in New York City, where he was working as a jazz musician and art promoter. At the time, Yoko Ono was a rising star in the art world and was known for her avant-garde performance art pieces.
The tumultuous and complex relationship between Yoko Ono and Anthony Cox, has been the subject of much speculation and analysis. Ono and Cox were married on November 28, 1962, but the marriage was annulled on March 1, 1963, due to Ono’s failure to properly finalize her divorce from her first husband, Toshi Ichiyanagi. However, the couple remarried on June 11, 1963, just two months before the birth of their daughter, Kyoko Chan Cox.
Cox became a full-time caregiver for their daughter, while Ono and Cox continued to work together as conceptual artists. However, their marriage began to disintegrate in 1967, partly due to Ono’s meeting with John Lennon at an art show the previous year.
Yoko Ono and John Lennon met at a London art gallery called the Indica Gallery in November 1966. Ono was exhibiting her work, which included a ladder that led up to a small magnifying glass hanging from the ceiling, and Lennon was intrigued. He climbed the ladder and looked through the glass, where he found the word “YES” written on the ceiling. This encounter led to a conversation between the two artists, and they began corresponding through letters and phone calls before eventually falling in love.
Meanwhile, Ono and Cox divorced on February 2, 1969, and Cox soon married an American woman named Melinda Kendall and moved to Denmark with Kyoko.
Was Kyoko Chan Cox kidnapped? Where did she disappear?
A custody battle ensued followed the divoce of Yoko Ono and Anthony Cox. He was eventually awarded custody of Kyoko. The reason for Cox to get custody of the daughter was the judgment that Ono was unfit to raise her child due to being addicted to drugs.
However, in 1971, Cox disappeared with Kyoko and his wife in violation of the custody order. He had joined a religious group known as the Church of the Living Word, or “The Walk,” after his divorce from Ono. He had also apparently changed the name of his daughter from Kyoko to Ruth Holman.
Cox eventually left the group and stayed with the Jesus People USA commune in Chicago with Kyoko. His marriage with Melinda was dissolved by the cult leader prior to leaving “The Walk.”
How Kyoko Chan Cox united with her mother Yoko Ono
Cox and Kyoko contacted Ono after Lennon’s death in 1980, but dd not reveal their location. Ono agreed not to actively search for her daughter, but still hoped to make contact. It wasn’t until 1994, when Kyoko was 31 years old, that she re-established contact with Ono. The two have maintained a relationship ever since.
In 1985, Cox discussed his experiences with the Lennons, “The Walk,” and life on the run in an autobiographical documentary film titled “Vain Glory.” Kyoko was credited as a co-producer of the film. The story of Ono, Cox, and Kyoko remains a fascinating tale of love, art, and family, filled with twists and turns that continue to captivate audiences to this day.
What does Kyoko Chan Cox do now?
She is living in retirement, having practiced as a teacher, and earns a decent income. Her lifestyle is a far-cry from her famous parents. She lives in Colorado and is active on Facebook with the name Molly Helfrich and on Twitter as @kyoko_q9
