After an audition for Oh Boy! (arranged without his knowledge by his four younger sisters!), Michael was immediately signed up by a very impressed Jack Good. His first song on Oh Boy! (in April 1959) was Ricky Nelson's "Never Be Anyone Else But You".

This was just shortly before Oh Boy! came off the air, to be replaced by Boy Meets Girl.

Although Michael had released a couple of records already (produced by Jack Good for the Decca label) he did not click with the public until he recorded a John D. Loudermilk song entitled "Angela Jones" for Joe Meek's tiny Triumph label. "Angela Jones" put Joe Meek's name firmly on the map and after singing this number on Wham! the record went straight into the charts at #20.

Unfortunately, Triumph could not handle the public's demand for copies and so what could have been Michael's (and Triumph's/Joe Meek's) first #1 record, only achieved #7. Michael Cox had a busy recording career for many years on the Decca, Pye, Triumph, HMV and Parlophone labels , all produced by Joe Meek.

Lack of another 'big hit' got Michael changing direction and after attending drama school he appeared in TV plays, commercials and films.

Near the end of the 1970s he began working the cruise ships where he met his future wife.

This led to appearances in the US and eventual emigration there. In 1981 he and his wife moved to New Zealand (her birthplace) where he continues to work as Michael James.