Debbie Davies

Debbie Davies has brought a new sensibility to the blues. The former guitarist for <a href="spotify:artist:5628G3CR5gNC71vdL5OWvZ">Albert Collins & the Icebreakers</a>, Fingers Taylor & the Ladyfinger Revue, and <a href="spotify:artist:0nlXseb3qOFasaFGabk7MQ">Maggie Mayall & the Cadillacs</a>, an all-female band led by <a href="spotify:artist:5s4z3mRAE7nxE3jjft8J3h">John Mayall</a>'s wife, Davies has continued to attract attention as the leader of her own group since 1993. "I believe my reputation backs up my ability to recognize exceptional blues," explained <a href="spotify:artist:5s4z3mRAE7nxE3jjft8J3h">John Mayall</a> during a early-2000 interview. "Such a one is Debbie Davies."

Davies' 1993 solo album, Picture This, featured a cameo appearance by <a href="spotify:artist:1uFixbBAduJkFAeRKznkvW">Collins</a>, who died of cancer shortly afterwards. Her fifth solo outing, Tales from the Austin Hotel, recorded with members of <a href="spotify:artist:5fsDcuclIe8ZiBD5P787K1">Stevie Ray Vaughan</a>'s band, <a href="spotify:artist:1ahkrwSQpxabomNFWQi9wZ">Double Trouble</a>, received a <a href="spotify:artist:7mDbAZV24eEmw5VJpKlCi9">W.C. Handy</a> award nomination. Love the Game, released in 2001, featured members of her touring band and was produced by <a href="spotify:artist:3SQa9cVuiUaZfao2KZiElA">Duke Robillard</a>.

A native of Los Angeles, Davies inherited her musical skills from her father, who wrote arrangements for <a href="spotify:artist:1eYhYunlNJlDoQhtYBvPsi">Ray Charles</a> and worked in the recording studio with <a href="spotify:artist:1Mxqyy3pSjf8kZZL4QVxS0">Frank Sinatra</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2cskX7NGnrWMjA4PRSxVPL">Pearl Bailey</a>. Performing in rock and blues bands in the San Francisco area in the early '80s, she returned to southern California in 1984.

After honing her talents as lead guitarist for <a href="spotify:artist:0nlXseb3qOFasaFGabk7MQ">Maggie Mayall & the Cadillacs</a>, Davies was recruited to play with <a href="spotify:artist:5628G3CR5gNC71vdL5OWvZ">Albert Collins & the Icebreakers</a> in 1988. She remained with the group for three years.

Touring with Fingers Taylor & the Ladyfinger Revue during the summer of 1991, Davies opened numerous shows for Taylor's employer, <a href="spotify:artist:28AyklUmMECPwdfo8NEsV0">Jimmy Buffett</a>.

Davies continues to play occasional sessions. Her 1997 album, I've Got That Feeling, featured duets with blues guitarists <a href="spotify:artist:3ODYbknLzVe3cWQzVfbzGB">Tab Benoit</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:5nU57S2m2i7gWujCtGKmAb">Montoya</a>.

To date, Davies had recorded three albums for Blind Pig (Picture This, Loose Tonight and I Got That Feeling), four for Shanachie (Round Every Corner, Tales from the Austin Motel, Love the Game, and her <a href="spotify:artist:5s4z3mRAE7nxE3jjft8J3h">John Mayall</a> tribute, Key to Love), and in 2005 she released All I Found with Telarc Records, followed in 2007 by Blues Blast on the same label. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi