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photo by Steve Roberts |
The "Memphis sound" has
always escaped a simple definition. Diversity and individuality
characterize the musical tradition of the city that gave the world
Beale Street, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, the Blues, Sun Studio,
B.B. King, Rock ‘n’ Roll and W.C. Handy.
Jimmy Davis is no exception to this rule. This versatile singer-songwriter,
named "Premier
Male Vocalist" five times by the Memphis Chapter of the National Academy
of Recording Arts & Sciences, knows no boundaries when it comes to musical
styles. Influences range from The Beatles to the Eagles, Johnny Cash and Gram
Parsons to Jackson Browne. His songs have been recorded by Martina McBride, Restless
Heart, Joy White, Johnny Rivers, as well as many other independent artists. Davis
has appeared as a backing vocalist on numerous recordings by artists such as
Johnny Lang, former Eagle Bernie Leadon, Danny Tate, Eric Gales, William Lee
Golden, Mark Collie, Keith Sykes, Iris DeMent, Cory Branan, Susan Marshall, John
Eddie, and the late Toy Caldwell. But it’s Jimmy’s charisma, warmth
and talent as a performer that make him stand out among his well known peers.
Jimmy started his career in 1987 with the QMI/MCA debut release Kick the
Wall by Jimmy Davis & Junction. The title song and first single “Kick the
Wall” was a top 40 AOR hit as well as an MTV hit video. The group was
known for its live appearances as a tight, loud, rock-n-roll band and toured
all over
America.
In 1996, Davis, with guitarist and Junction bandmate Tommy Burroughs, re-formed
The Riverbluff Clan, a renowned |
Memphis rockin'-country-bluegrass outfit from
the ‘70's. The band released two critically acclaimed independent CDs.
The live album One Night in a Month of Sundays was
heralded for its "hybrid vigor," while the studio CD Two
Quarts Low was called a "genre-bending romp through bluegrass, country
and country-tinged rock". It garnered a top 20 spot on the
Gavin Americana chart and the song “Two Quarts Low” was
even covered by RBC favorite John Cowan. The Clan also appeared
in the award winning independent film The Poor & Hungry,
directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow), performing
Davis' "Honeysuckle and Kudzu."
In
2004, Jimmy made his solo debut with a CD of self-penned songs
entitled Jimmy
Daddy's Acoustic Song List. Songs like "Grandmother's Quilt," "Devil's
Den," "I Gotta Roll" and "Waiting in the Wings" honor
every style of music Davis has ever approached. The Commercial Appeal called
it "an unassuming triumph and as honest a record as you're likely to
hear."
March of 2006 brought Campfire Songs to the world.
The record was produced by Jimmy and recorded at Sounds Unreel in Memphis by
Dawn Hopkins. It features Jack Holder, Tommy Burroughs, Jim Dickinson, Reba Russell,
Alvin Youngblood Hart, Susan Marshall, Richard Bailey, Cowboy Eddie Long and
the River Bluff Clan. Campfire Songs paints a cohesive and evocative picture by bringing together
songs written throughout Jimmy's career. "I always wanted to make this record
but I just didn't have enough songs that fit the concept,” Jimmy says. “It
has literally taken me 25 years to get the right mix. "Tennessee" was
written in Germany when I was 19 on a USO Tour and "Death Ridge" was
written while recording the album in 2004." As the title implies, some
songs were actually written around the campfire on hiking and camping trips.
Bluegrass
and country, stories and hauntings, it's all here.
In addition to making the latest record, Jimmy has spent the last couple of years helping out a heaping handful of friends. He appeared as background vocalist on the Grammy-nominated record from the North Mississippi Allstars, Electric Blue Watermelon, as well as their new one, Hernando. Also their pop's (Jim Dickinson) 2006 release, Jungle Jim and the VooDoo Tiger and his latest Killers From Space. In addition, he sang on William Lee Ellis' record God’s Tattoo, and provided all the backing vocal for Keith Sykes’ last record, Let It Roll. The Reba Russell Band album Broke Down But Not Out features Jimmy's vocals and guitar playing as well as his song, "Sister Friend." And he contributed vocals, guitar as well as a cover of Waiting in the Wings to Jed and Kelley's cd Songs To Take Home.
He has also added producing to his list of accomplishments with the release of new songs by Giant Bear, including the song "Nashville", which is on the Paste sampler! Also coming soon in 2008 are Jimmy Daddy's Acoustic Songlist Vol II and a cd of home demos called BEAGLES.
Whether fronting a rock band, providing a soundtrack for an Oscar-winning film-maker,
or picking his guitar around a campfire, Jimmy Davis continues his musical journey
and the emerging legacy of a new Memphis sound.
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