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although ‘Texas Flood’ and ‘Angels In Houston’ were regional hits, so he relocated to St.
Louis, Missouri. There he played bass in the Albert King band through much of the 1960s,
although he doesn’t seem to have played on any of King’s records. Whilst working with

the band, Davis decided to switch to guitar, and spent his time honing his chops whilst
remaining part of the Albert King band rhythm section. His eventual choice of guitar for
much of his career - the Gibson Flying V - was no doubt inspired by his employer, as, to
an extent, was his style of playing.

Although his guitar playing probably didn’t really put him amongst the top rank of blues
players he was acknowledged as a very fine vocalist.

Little is known about the career of Larry Davis after his stint with Albert King, but he
did release a few singles on B.B. King’s Virgo and Pieces labels, Hub City, and True Soul,

ending up with a disastrous association with Kent Records. None of the singles were
successful, nor do any appear to be available, so he
returned to gigging around Little Rock. In 1972 he
had a very bad motorcycle accident, which
temporarily paralysed his left side, limiting his
ability to play for most of the remainder of the
decade. Three years of rehabilitation was required,

during which he took a job with a limousine service,
until a visit from Albert King inspired him to
endeavour to return to music full time.

1981 saw a change of his luck, when he recorded an

album, overseen by the acclaimed producer Oliver
Sain, and featuring the superb piano player Johnnie
Johnson (of Chuck Berry band fame), which showcased the soulful voice and guitar
playing of Davis to the full. The title was “Funny Stuff”, and the success of the album was
followed by four W.C. Handy awards in 1982, and further critically acclaimed albums on

Pulsar, Black & Blue and Bullseye Records. Although greatly lauded, the albums were
not necessarily freely available, so even fans often had difficulty obtaining them.

In addition, he toured extensively in the USA, Europe and Japan, although I must say I
don’t recall him being in the UK, as I’m sure I would have gone to see him!

In the early 1990s Larry Davis, like his friend Fenton Robinson, was diagnosed with
cancer, eventually dying on 19th April 1994, at the age of 57. There seems to be no
information regarding a wife or family.

He is buried at Bald Knob Cemetery, Kitts Hill - which is in Ohio.

Unfortunately, there does not appear to be too much of the work of Larry Davis freely
available, apart from the compilation previously referred to, which contains all his classic
recordings. Apart from Davis and Robinson, the album also includes a number of tracks
by a pedal steel guitar player/vocalist called Hop Wilson. Can’t say I had ever heard of

him, but he’s good!