Larry Davis (blues musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Larry Davis
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Davis in 1983
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 4, 1936 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 (born December 4, 1936 – died April 19, 1994) was an American musician. He played electric guitar and sang Texas blues and soul blues music. He is most famous for helping to write the song "Texas Flood". This song later became a big hit for another musician, Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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Larry Davis's Early Life and Music
Larry Davis was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He grew up in England, Arkansas, and Little Rock, Arkansas. He first played the drums, but then learned to play the bass guitar.
In the mid-1950s, Larry worked with another musician named Fenton Robinson. A famous singer, Bobby Bland, suggested that Larry get a recording contract with Duke Records. This meant Larry could record his own music.
Larry released three songs as singles. These included "Texas Flood" and "Angels in Houston". After these songs, he did not get many chances to record more music for a while.
Moving to St. Louis and Learning Guitar
Larry Davis lived in St. Louis, Missouri, for some time. There, he played bass guitar in Albert King's band. During this period, he also learned how to play the guitar. Interestingly, the guitar part on Larry's recording of "Texas Flood" was actually played by Fenton Robinson.
Larry released a few more songs on different record labels. However, in 1972, he had a motorcycle accident. This accident made it hard for him to use his left side for a while.
A Comeback in Music
About ten years after his accident, Larry Davis returned to music. He released an album called Funny Stuff in 1982. This album was produced by Oliver Sain and released by Rooster Blues.
Larry won four W. C. Handy Awards in 1982. These awards celebrate the best in blues music. Even with these awards, by the early 1990s, only people who really loved blues music knew about him. His 1987 album, I Ain't Beggin' Nobody, was hard for fans to find.
In 1992, another album called Sooner or Later came out. This album showed off his powerful singing voice and his guitar playing. His guitar style was very much like Albert King's.
Larry Davis passed away in April 1994, at the age of 57.
Larry Davis's Albums
Here are some of the albums Larry Davis released:
- 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
See also
- List of electric blues musicians
- List of Texas blues musicians
