Boo
Boo Davis
 James
'Boo Boo' Davis was born on November 4, 1943 in Drew,
Mississippi. He started playing drums with his family band when
he was seven years old. At that time he didn't have a drum kit
so he used a lard can instead. This band, called the Lard Can
Band, featured his father Sylvester sr. on vocals, his brother
Sylvester jr. on bass, his younger brother John on guitar and
his sister Clara also on vocals. His brother Sylvester jr is also
known as S. L. Davis. This band played in Mississippi cities as
Minnow City and Rulevine and during this time they also backed
up young B.B. King who was at that time completely unknown outside
Mississippi.
Boo Boo moved to St Louis and started playing real drums. His
first gig was with Doc Terry. After he left Doc Terry he started
a band with Little Aaron who composed the song "East St Louis"
on Boo Boo's new CD. That band became one of the hottest backup
bands in St Louis and they backed up great blues legends like
Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton and Elmore
James. In 1972 Boo Boo formed another Davis family band featuring
his brother John Davis on guitar and S.L. Davis on bass. This
trio, known as the Davis Brothers Band was the weekend house band
at a club called Tabby's Red Room in East St Louis for 18 years.
They played from 2 to 6 a.m. every friday and saturday.
Boo Boo can be heard on the new Arthur Williams CD "Harpin'
It Out" on Fedora Records. Boo Boo's recording debut under
his own name took place in September 1999 and the result was released
on Black and Tan Records in January 2000. The CD got very nice
reviews in the international blues magazines like Blues Access
and is played on blues radio stations all over the world. With
Arthur Williams & the Bluesmasters Boo Boo Davis already performed
at the Handzame Blues Festival (Belgium) in September '99.
His first european tour under his own name took place in April
2000. He did 16 successfull shows in Holland, Belgium, Switzerland,
Germany, Austria, France and the UK. In the UK he made recordings
for the famous Paul Jones Show on the BBC Radio. In December 2000
and May 2001 he toured Europe again and his next european tour
is scheduled for December 2001. His next recording project (again
for Black and Tan Records) is also scheduled for December. |
