Native American session guitarist originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
A Kiowa/Comanche/Cheyenne/Seminole/Muscogee American Indian, Davis played in country star Conway Twitty’s band in his native Oklahoma before moving to Los Angeles and quickly picking up session work backing Junior Markham, Leon Russell, Delaney & Bonnie, and more.
After playing on Taj Mahal’s first three albums, Davis amassed a resume of sessions that included Albert King and B.B. King, Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, Gene Clark, and Rod Stewart, as well as standout solos on Bob Dylan’s “178359” and Jackson Browne’s “231761.”
In the late ’80s, Davis wrote and played the music for the poetry of Indian activist John Trudell, their band was called Grafitti Man. After battling addiction most of his career, Davis died of an apparent overdose at age 43.
Born 21 September 1944, died 22 June 1988
United States· Norman