Blind John Davis
| Blind John Davis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | John Henry Davis |
| Born |
December 7, 1913 Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States |
| Died |
October 12, 1985 (aged 71) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Blues, jazz, boogie-woogie |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals |
| Years active | 1933–85 |
| Labels | Vocalion, Disques Vogue, Riverside, Happy Bird, Christi, Oldie Blues, Sirens, L&R, Red Beans |
| Associated acts | Johnny Lee's Music Masters |
Blind John Davis (December 7, 1913 – October 12, 1985)[1] was an African-American blues, jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and singer.[2][3] He is best remembered for his recordings, including "A Little Every Day" and "Everybody's Boogie".[1]
Biography
Davis was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and relocated with his family to Chicago at the age of two.[4] Seven years later he had lost his sight. In his early years Davis backed Merline Johnson, and by his mid-twenties he was a well-known and reliable accompanying pianist. Between 1937 and 1942, he recorded with Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Tampa Red, Red Nelson,[5] Merline Johnson, and others, playing on many recordings of that time. He also made several records of his own, singing in his lightweight voice.[2]
Having played in various recording sessions with Lonnie Johnson, Davis teamed up with him in the 1940s.[6] He recorded later on his own. His "No Mail Today" (1949) was a minor hit.[2] Most of Doctor Clayton's later recordings featured Davis on piano.[7]
He toured Europe with Broonzy in 1952, the first blues pianist to do so. In later years Davis toured and recorded frequently in Europe, where he enjoyed a higher profile than in his homeland.[4]
In 1955 Davis's Chicago house burned down. His wife died in the fire, and his collection of 1700 unique 78-rpm records, some of unissued recordings, was destroyed.[8]
Davis died in his adopted hometown of Chicago in October 1985, at the age of 71.
Discography
- The Incomparable Blind John Davis (1974) – Oldie Blues OL 2803[9]
- Alive "Live" and Well (1976) – Chrischaa
- Heavy Timbre: Chicago Boogie Piano (1976, re-released in 2002) – Sirens Records
- Stompin' on a Saturday Night (1978) – Alligator
- You Better Cut That Out (1985) – Red Beans
- Blind John Davis [Story of Blues] (1991) – Story of Blues
- The Incomparable Blind John Davis (1997) – Oldie Blues OLCD 7003 (reissue of OL 2803)[10]
- My Own Boogie (2002) – Past Perfect (UK)[11]
See also
References
- 1 2 "The Dead Rock Stars Club (1980)". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
- 1 2 3 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. pp. 105–06. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ Archived June 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
- 1 2 O'Neal, Jim. "Blind John Davis". Allmusic. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
- ↑ "Red Nelson - 1935-1938 (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
- ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 41. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 101–102. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ Olderen, Martin van (1997). Liner notes, The Incomparable Blind John Davis, OLCD 7003.
- ↑ "Oldies Blues discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ↑ Steve Leggett (June 20, 1974). "The Incomparable Blind John Davis – Blind John Davis | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
- ↑ "Blind John Davis | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-05-18.