Biography Blind John Davis

Blind John Davis (December 7, 1913 — October 12, 1985) was an American, blues, jazz and boogie-woogie pianist and singer.

Davis was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, but he relocated with his family to Chicago at the age of two. Seven years later he had lost his sight. In his early years Davis backed Merline Johnson, and by his mid-twenties he was a well known and reliable accompanying pianist. Between 1937 and 1942, Davis recorded with Big Bill Broonzy, Sonny Boy Williamson I, Tampa Red, Merline Johnson, and others, playing on many recordings of that time. He also waxed several efforts of his own, using his own lightweight voice.

After playing on various earlier recording sessions with him, in the 1940s Davis teamed up with Lonnie Johnson. Recording later on his own, "No Mail Today" (1949) became a minor hit for Davis. Most of Doctor Clayton's later recordings featured Davis on piano.

He toured Europe with Broonzy in 1952, the first blues pianist to do so. In later years Davis toured and recorded frequently in Europe, where he enjoyed a higher profile than in his homeland.

Davis died in his adopted home town of Chicago, at the age of 71, in October 1985.

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