Guy Davis (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guy Davis
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Guy Davis at Hugh's Room in Toronto, Canada
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| Background information | |
| Born | May 12, 1952 |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Blues |
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| Years active | 1978-present |
Guy Davis (born May 12, 1952) is an American blues musician. He plays the guitar, banjo, and harmonica. He has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards. Guy is the son of famous actors Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis.
Contents
Guy's Musical Journey
Guy Davis says his blues music is inspired by his grandmother's Southern way of speaking. Even though he grew up in New York City, he heard many stories about life in the rural South from his family. These stories became part of his own songs.
Guy taught himself to play the guitar. He learned by listening to and watching other musicians. He even learned a special guitar style called finger picking from another musician on a train! His first experience with the blues was at a summer camp. There, he learned to play the five-string banjo.
Acting and Music Combined
Guy Davis has always loved both music and acting. Early in his career, he acted in the 1984 film Beat Street. He also appeared on TV in One Life to Live from 1985 to 1986.
Later, Guy found ways to combine his talents. In 1991, he was in a Broadway musical called Mulebone. This show featured music by Taj Mahal.
In 1993, Guy played the blues musician Robert Johnson in an off-Broadway play. He received great reviews for his performance. He also won the "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" from the Blues Foundation that year.
Guy also creates his own shows. He wrote a one-man show called In Bed with the Blues: The Adventures of Fishy Waters. This show combined his love for blues music and acting. It was praised by critics when it debuted in 1994.
He has also written other plays and stories. His music was used in an Emmy Award-winning film called To Be a Man. It was also featured in the PBS series The American Promise. In 2022, Guy wrote and performed another one-man show called Sugarbelly and Other Tales My Father Told Me.
Guy's Music Albums
For the past twenty years, Guy Davis has focused on making music. In 1995, he released his first album, Stomp Down Rider. This live album was very popular across the country.
His next album, Call Down the Thunder, honored old blues masters. It also showed off his own powerful songs. Acoustic Guitar magazine called it one of the "thirty essential CDs" from new artists.
Guy's third album, You Don't Know My Mind, was full of energy. It was chosen as 'Blues Album of the Year' by the Association For Independent Music. The San Francisco Chronicle said his vocals were "tough, timeless," and powerful.
Music critic Dave Marsh wrote about Guy's fifth album, Give in Kind. He said Guy always remembers that the blues is also about having a good time.
Ian Anderson, the lead singer of Jethro Tull, liked Guy's music so much that he invited Guy to open for his band in 2003.
Many famous people are fans of Guy Davis. These include musician Jackson Browne, writer Maya Angelou, and actress Jessica Lange. Jessica Lange even asked Guy to perform a song for a fundraiser she organized.
His sixth album, Chocolate to the Bone, was nominated for a Blues Music Award. Guy has been nominated for ten such awards over the years. These nominations include "Best Acoustic Blues Album" and "Best Acoustic Blues Artist."
His 2004 album, Legacy, was chosen as one of the Best CDs of the Year by National Public Radio (NPR). The song "Uncle Tom's Dead" from that album was named one of the Best Songs of the Year.
Guy Davis has also contributed songs to many other albums. These include tribute albums for blues legends and collections for children. One project he is very proud of is I Will Be Your Friend: Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers. Guy sang the title track for this album. It is a collection of songs and activities that help teach about diversity and understanding. This project helps combat hatred and is sent to public schools across the country.
Recent Activities
Guy Davis has worked on music for children's TV shows. He wrote songs for Whoopi Goldberg's Littleburg series. He also appeared and sang on Jack's Big Music Show for the Nickelodeon network.
He also leads workshops and programs for students of all ages. He has worked with the Lincoln Center Institute and the Kennedy Center. He visits schools across the U.S. and Canada.
Guy appeared in a PBS special about jazz and blues artist Howard Armstrong. His father, Ossie Davis, received a Kennedy Center Honor from the President of the United States.
In 2012, Guy released an audio play called The Adventures of Fishey Waters: In Bed with the Blues. It tells historical stories through a play with Guy's songs.
In 2016, Guy toured the UK with fellow musician Brooks Williams. In 2017, his album Sonny & Brownie's Last Train with Fabrizio Poggi was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Awards and Recognition
- Guy Davis has received three Blues Music Award nominations.
- He won the Blues Foundation's "Keeping The Blues Alive" award in 1993.
- He received the 1991 BRIO award.
- He won the 1993 AUDELCO Award for Best Actor.
- In 2017, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album for Sonny & Brownie's Last Train.
- In 2021, he received another Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Blues Album for Be Ready When I Call You.
Discography
- 1978: Dreams About Life (Folkways Records)
- 1984: Beat Street
- 1993: Guy Davis - Live, 1993 (The Music Hall)
- 1995: Stomp Down Rider (Red House Records)
- 1996: Call Down the Thunder (Red House Records)
- 1998: You Don't Know My Mind (Red House Records)
- 2002: Give in Kind (Red House Records)
- 2003: Chocolate to the Bone (Red House Records)
- 2004: Legacy (Red House Records)
- 2006: Skunkmello (Red House Records)
- 2007: Down At The Sea Hotel (Secret Mountain)
- 2007: Guy Davis On Air (Tradition & Moderne)
- 2009: Sweetheart Like You (Red House Records)
- 2012: The Adventures of Fishy Waters (Smokeydoke Records)
- 2013: Juba Dance (DixieFrog Records)
- 2015: Kokomo Kidd
- 2015: Sonny & Brownie's Last Train with Fabrizio Poggi - Grammy Award nominee 2017
- 2019: Gumbo, Grits & Gravy
- 2021: Be Ready When I Call You
See also
In Spanish: Guy Davis (músico) para niños
