Larry Davis (blues musician)
| Larry Davis | |
|---|---|
 Larry Davis in 1983 | |
| Background information | |
| Born |
December 4, 1936 Kansas City, Missouri, United States or Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States |
| Died |
April 19, 1994 (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | Texas blues, soul blues, electric blues |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, guitarist, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass guitar |
| Years active | Mid 1950s–1994 |
| Labels | Rooster Blues, various |
Larry Davis (December 4, 1936 – April 19, 1994)[1] was an American electric Texas blues and soul blues musician. He is best known for co-composing the song "Texas Flood", later recorded to greater commercial success by Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Biography
Born in either Kansas City, Missouri or Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and raised in England, Arkansas and Little Rock, Arkansas, Davis swapped playing the drums to learn to play the bass guitar. In the mid-1950s, Davis had a working partnership with Fenton Robinson, and following the recommendation of Bobby Bland was given a recording contract by the Duke label. Davis had three singles released, which included "Texas Flood" and "Angels in Houston". Thereafter, Davis had limited opportunity in the recording studio. He resided in St. Louis, Missouri for a while, and played bass in Albert King's group.[2] He also learned conventional guitar at this time, as the original guitar playing on Davis's recording of "Texas Flood" was by Robinson.[3]
Several single releases on the Virgo and Kent labels followed, but in 1972 a motorcycle accident temporarily paralyzed Davis' left side.[2] He returned a decade later with an album released by Rooster Blues, Funny Stuff, which was produced by Oliver Sain.[3] He won four W.C. Handy Awards in 1982, yet a decade on he was known only to blues specialists.[3] His 1987 Pulsar LP, I Ain't Beggin' Nobody, proved difficult even for blues enthusiasts to locate.[2]
In 1992, Bullseye Blues issued another Davis offering, Sooner or Later, that highlighted his booming vocals and Albert King influenced guitar work. Davis died of cancer in April 1994, at the age of 57.[2]
Selected discography
- Funny Stuff (1982) - Rooster Blues
- I Ain't Beggin' Nobody (1987) - Evidence
- Sooner or Later (1992) - Bullseye Blues
- B.B. King Presents Larry Davis (2002)
- Sweet Little Angel (2002) - P-Vine Records[4]
See also
References
- ↑ Doc Rock. "The Dead Rock Stars Club 1994 - 1995". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- 1 2 3 4 Bill Dahl. "Larry Davis | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-16.
- 1 2 3 Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 106. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ↑ "Larry Davis | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-09-16.