CEDELL DAVIS

Biography

CeDell Davis, born Ellis CeDell Davis on June 9, 1926, in Helena, Arkansas, emerged as a singular figure in American blues, renowned for his raw, expressive guitar style and indomitable spirit. Raised on a plantation, Davis was immersed in the Delta blues tradition from an early age, learning harmonica and guitar alongside childhood friends, including future bluesman Doctor Ross. At age ten, Davis contracted severe polio, which left him with limited use of his hands. Undeterred, he developed a unique slide guitar technique, using a table knife to fret the strings, giving his music a distinctive, metallic resonance that set him apart from his peers.

Davis began performing in Mississippi Delta nightclubs, and from 1953 to 1963, he played with legendary bluesman Robert Nighthawk. Despite suffering further adversity—his legs were broken in a 1957 club stampede, confining him to a wheelchair—Davis continued to perform, his hardships deeply informing his lyrics and sound. Relocating to Pine Bluff, Arkansas in the early 1960s, he remained active in the blues scene, though his recordings did not appear until the 1980s. Davis experienced a late-career renaissance in the 1990s and 2000s, releasing acclaimed albums on Fat Possum Records, collaborating with artists like Col. Bruce Hampton and members of R.E.M., and earning praise for his timeless approach to the blues. He died in Hot Springs, Arkansas, on September 27, 2017, at age 91, leaving a legacy as a resilient innovator who bridged the rural roots and modern evolution of the blues.

Fun Facts

• Davis developed his signature slide guitar technique using a table knife due to paralysis from polio, creating a sound described as metallic and haunting.
• He survived a club stampede in 1957 that left him wheelchair-bound for life, yet he continued to perform and record for decades.
• Davis's mother was a cook and a faith healer, and he spent part of his childhood on the E. M. Hood Plantation, where he built his first instrument, a diddley bow.
• His 1994 album 'Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong', produced by Robert Palmer, received a 9.0 rating from Pitchfork Media and was called 'timeless.'

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Doctor Ross (Isaiah Ross) - Childhood friend and early musical companion; they learned harmonica and guitar together in Mississippi. (Informal early performances) [1930s]
• Robert Nighthawk - Major influence and bandleader; Davis played in Nighthawk's band for a decade, absorbing his slide guitar style. (Live performances and tours) [1953–1963]

Key Collaborators

• Col. Bruce Hampton & The Aquarium Rescue Unit - Collaborated on the compilation album 'The Best Of CeDell Davis'. (The Best Of CeDell Davis (1995)) [1990s]
• Peter Buck - R.E.M. guitarist who played on and helped record Davis's album 'When Lightnin' Struck the Pine'. (When Lightnin' Struck the Pine (2002)) [2002]
• Barrett Martin - Drummer and producer; assembled the band for and produced 'When Lightnin' Struck the Pine'. (When Lightnin' Struck the Pine (2002)) [2002]
• Scott McCaughey - R.E.M. sideman who played guitar on 'When Lightnin' Struck the Pine'. (When Lightnin' Struck the Pine (2002)) [2002]
• Alex Veley - Keyboardist on 'When Lightnin' Struck the Pine'. (When Lightnin' Struck the Pine (2002)) [2002]
• Joe Cripps - Percussionist and producer for 'When Lightnin' Struck the Pine'. (When Lightnin' Struck the Pine (2002)) [2002]

Artists Influenced

• Tedeschi Trucks Band - Their album 'Signs' was dedicated to Davis, acknowledging his influence and the inspiration drawn from his music. (Signs (2019)) [2019]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. She's Got the Devil in Her (Even the Devil Gets the Blues)
2. Catfish & Cornbread (Last Man Standing)
3. Catfish Blues (Even the Devil Gets the Blues)
4. Green Onions (Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong)
5. I Don't Know Why (Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong)
6. If You Like Fat Women (Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong)
7. Keep on Snatchin It Back (The Horror of It All)
8. She's Got The Devil In Her (The Singing Earth)
9. Play with Your Poodle (Even the Devil Gets the Blues)
10. Boogie Chillen No. 2 (Feel Like Doin' Something Wrong)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia