Walter Davis: Biography

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• Blind John Davis
• Curtis Jones
• Jimmy McCracklin
• Bill Samuels

• Roosevelt Sykes
• Leroy Carr

• St. Louis Jimmy Oden
• Dave Ray & Tony Glover
• Jimmy McCracklin

• Merline Johnson

• Sonny Boy Williamson
• Big Bill Broonzy
• Joe Williams
• Robert Lee McCoy
• Yank Rachell
• Johnny Parth
• Henry Townsend

Born:

Mar 1, 1912 in Grenada, MS

Died:

Oct 22, 1963 in St. Louis, MO

Genres:

Blues Music, Piano and Jump Blues Music

Decades Active:

1930's|1940's|1950's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

While never a contemporary superstar or latter-day legend on a par with many of his peers, singer/pianist Walter Davis was among the most prolific blues performers to emerge from the pre-war St. Louis scene, cutting over 150 sides between 1930 and 1952. Born March 1, 1912 in Grenada, Mississippi, Davis' two-fisted piano style bore the heavy influence of Leroy Carr, although he was better known for his funereal vocal style; he first attracted attention upon relocating to St. Louis during the mid-1920s, and soon made the first of his many recordings for the Victor label. Despite its abundance, his work -- much of it recorded in conjunction with guitarist Henry Townsend -- was solid but unspectacular, eclipsed by the likes of associates including Roosevelt Sykes and Peetie Wheatstraw; still, he enjoyed a fair amount of success before a stroke prompted him to move from music to the ministry during the early 1950s. Davis was still preaching at the time of his death on October 22, 1963.

- Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide