Blind John Davis

Blind John Davis (December 7, 1913 — October 12, 1985) was an African American, blues, jazz

and boogie-woogie pianist and singer. He is best remembered for his recordings including "A

Little Every Day" and "Everybody's Boogie"

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[disambiguation needed], 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.