Blind John Davis
Birth nameJohn Henry Davis
Born(1913-12-07)December 7, 1913
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedOctober 12, 1985(1985-10-12) (aged 71)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
GenresBlues, boogie-woogie
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Piano, vocals
Years active1933–1985
LabelsVocalion, Disques Vogue, Riverside, Happy Bird, Christi, Oldie Blues, Sirens, L&R, Red Beans

Blind John Davis (December 7, 1913 – October 12, 1985)[1] was an American blues 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. 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.[8] In later years Davis toured and recorded frequently in Europe, where he enjoyed a higher profile than in the United States.[4]

House Fire

In 1955, Davis's house in Chicago burned down. His wife died in the fire, and his collection of 1700 78-rpm records, some of them unissued, was destroyed.[9]

Death

Davis died in Chicago on October 12, 1985. He was 71.

Discography

  • The Incomparable Blind John Davis (1974), Oldie Blues OL 2803[10]
  • Alive "Live" and Well (1976), Chrischaa
  • Heavy Timbre: Chicago Boogie Piano (1976, re-released 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

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Dead Rock Stars Club (1980)". TheDeadRockStarsClub.com. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. 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.
  3. ↑ Archived June 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 Dahl, Bill. "Blind John Davis: Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 9, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Red Nelson: 1935–1938 (LP)". Discogs.com. 1988. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 41. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  7. ↑ Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. pp. 101–102. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
  8. ↑ Robert Palmer (1981). Deep Blues. Penguin Books. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-14-006223-6.
  9. ↑ Olderen, Martin van (1997). Liner notes. The Incomparable Blind John Davis. OLCD 7003.
  10. ↑ "Oldies Blues Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
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