b. March 1, 1912 in Grenada, MS, d. October 22, 1963 in St. Louis, MO, blues singer, pianist, and songwriter who was one of the most prolific blues recording artists from the early 1930s to the early 1950s.
Based in St. Louis for most of his life, Davis learned piano at an early age. Between 1930 and 1941 he made many records, mainly issued on the Bluebird label, establishing himself as one of the most popular blues artists of the era. At first he was accompanied by another pianist, Roosevelt Sykes, but from 1935 onwards he developed a very distinctive style based around his own straightforward, but instantly recognizable, piano playing, a melancholy vocal and thoughtful, well-developed lyrics. Many of these records featured accompanying guitarists such as 'Big' Joe Williams and Henry Townsend, the latter in particular demonstrating considerable musical empathy with Davis. After World War II, the Victor company released a further two records by Davis, but without recapturing his former commercial success. Nevertheless, in the late 40s he made several records for the Nashville-based Bullet label, and another two for Victor in 1952, which included some of his finest and most affecting performances. This artist should not be confused with Walter Davis Jnr. (b. 2 September 1932), also a pianist, who has worked with Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Rollins, and others. In 1952, Davis had a stroke, which effectively ended his recording career. His style of music was already becoming unfashionable. He worked for the rest of his life as a desk clerk in a hotel and as a part-time preacher. He died in St. Louis in 1963, aged about 52, and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery, in Hillsdale, Missouri.
Walter Davis Biography by Jason Ankeny
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-'20s, 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 '50s. Davis was still preaching at the time of his death on October 22, 1963.