Jimi Hendrix Bassist Billy Cox Donates Hendrix-Inspired Painting to Support Maui Wildfire Victims
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Honoring Maui Through Art
Billy Cox, the legendary bassist who played alongside Jimi Hendrix in both The Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsys, has donated a painting inspired by his late friend to aid wildfire victims in Maui. The piece, titled “Maui Moon,” will be auctioned as part of the Maui Music & Food Experience benefit on November 7 in Chicago.
The event will be held at the Gateway Theater at the Copernicus Center and will feature live performances and Hawaiian cuisine. Proceeds will support the Hua Momona Foundation, a Maui-based nonprofit that promotes Hawaii’s aloha spirit while providing food, mental health care, and youth music programs. The foundation is also helping Lahaina recover from the devastating 2023 wildfires that destroyed much of the town.
The Purpose Behind the Fundraiser
The Hua Momona Foundation was created by Hua Momona Farms, a local microgreens supplier, and has become a key player in the island’s recovery efforts. The Chicago fundraiser will include performances by soul singer Bettye LaVette and Rolling Stones vocalists Lisa Fischer and Bernard Fowler.
Tickets for the event are available through OneCause.com. Previous Maui Music & Food Experience events were held in Maui in September 2024 and August 2025. Cox performed at the 2024 gathering, marking his last public performance to date.
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The Story Behind “Maui Moon”
The inspiration for Cox’s painting dates back to 1970, when he and Hendrix were in Maui filming Rainbow Bridge. One evening, as they relaxed on the porch of their rental home, Cox was struck by the sight of the moon reflecting over the Hawaiian landscape. He mentioned to Hendrix that he wanted to paint it, and Jimi encouraged him, saying, “Yeah, you should go ahead and do that. I’d like to see how it looks.”
Cox began working on the oil painting soon after, but during a flight to Oahu, he discovered it had been damaged beyond repair. “I was crushed,” he recalled. “Jimi tried to cheer me up and said, ‘Just do another one—you’ll be inspired again.’” Tragically, Hendrix passed away a few weeks later before Cox had a chance to recreate the piece.
Fifty years later, in 2020, Cox finally completed “Maui Moon.” The painting serves as a tribute to Hendrix, the island of Maui, and the creative friendship they shared.
Details About the Charity Auction
Online bidding for “Maui Moon” and other auction items is already open on OneCause.com, with a starting bid of $5,000. The live auction will conclude on November 8 during the Hua Momona Foundation’s annual gala at the San Filippo Estate in Barrington, Illinois, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Central Time. Remote bidding will also be available for those unable to attend in person.
More Events and Community Efforts
Cox will also participate in another Chicago event on November 6 hosted by the same foundation. The “Songs and Stories” program at the Kimball Arts Center will feature a conversation between Cox and Chicago musician Nicholas Tremulis. The free event will mark the launch of the Maui Youth Music Program, which aims to support aspiring young musicians across the island.
Cox, Fowler, Tremulis, and longtime Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones will serve on the program’s advisory board. During the event, Cox and Tremulis are expected to discuss Cox’s friendship with Hendrix and the music they made together, with the possibility of an impromptu performance.
The Life and Legacy of Billy Cox
Cox and Hendrix first met in 1961 while serving in the U.S. Army in Kentucky. Their friendship led to numerous collaborations, including recordings in 1969 after the breakup of the original Jimi Hendrix Experience lineup. Cox also played at Woodstock as part of Hendrix’s Gypsy Sun and Rainbows group and later joined Band of Gypsys alongside drummer Buddy Miles.
His performances and recordings with Hendrix have since been featured in many posthumous releases. From the late 1990s through 2022, Cox participated in official Hendrix tribute tours, continuing to honor the guitarist’s music and legacy.
Billy Cox will celebrate his 84th birthday on October 18, still carrying the creative spark that once connected him to one of rock’s most influential artists.
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