About
Born: 23rd January 1932, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.
Died: 7th January 1964, London, England.
British blues harp-player, guitarist and banjo player and one of the pioneers of 'electric blues' in the UK in the early 1960's.
Cyril Davies, in unison with , was a kingpin in the founding and promotion in the UK of the modern electric blues and the fusions that were to follow into the 1970's. Whilst Davies was a Chicago Blues purist at heart, which finally led to his separation from Korner, his work had a vital influence on many of the musicians and 'guitar heros' of later years. The Kinks, The Stones, Pete Townshend, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, John Baldry, Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Rod Stewart, Ritchie Blackmore... the list is vast. All had gained inspiration from witnessing Davies' sessions at either Soho's 'Round House', the Marquee or the hotbed of rhythm & blues fusion, the Ealing Club, in which he partnered Korner in ownership.
By January 1962 Davies and Korner had formed "", a band which became a 'moveable feast' for a raft of budding UK blues musicians. A format that spawned a matrix for bands such as The Bluesbreakers, the Organisation, Steampacket, or Colosseum. Although it is hard to imagine today, this band helped pioneer the concept of using amplifiers and their consequent effects on-stage. As time progressed Davies found himself at odds with the many styles and jazz influences the band had adopted. By the following year he had left "Blues Inc" and formed "", moving away from his early teenage influences of and into modern renditions in a Chicago Blues style. With Davies on harmonica, 12-string acoustic or banjo, his early band line-up was , , and . Page's position was short-lived, as he became involved in session work, and he was replaced by ex-Savages guitarist .
The group took up residency at the Marquee in 1963, with added on vocals. The band's stage presentation was also swelled by the inclusion of the vocal backing group "The Velvettes" with Peggy Phango, a trio that had finished touring a UK production of "King Kong". The band released their first single "Country Line Special" in February 1963. A number of further recordings were made before Davies tragically died a year later, just before his 32nd birthday.
The name and format of the band continued under the aegis of Long John Baldry for a while and eventually evolved into "".
Died: 7th January 1964, London, England.
British blues harp-player, guitarist and banjo player and one of the pioneers of 'electric blues' in the UK in the early 1960's.
Cyril Davies, in unison with , was a kingpin in the founding and promotion in the UK of the modern electric blues and the fusions that were to follow into the 1970's. Whilst Davies was a Chicago Blues purist at heart, which finally led to his separation from Korner, his work had a vital influence on many of the musicians and 'guitar heros' of later years. The Kinks, The Stones, Pete Townshend, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, John Baldry, Jimmy Page, The Yardbirds, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Rod Stewart, Ritchie Blackmore... the list is vast. All had gained inspiration from witnessing Davies' sessions at either Soho's 'Round House', the Marquee or the hotbed of rhythm & blues fusion, the Ealing Club, in which he partnered Korner in ownership.
By January 1962 Davies and Korner had formed "", a band which became a 'moveable feast' for a raft of budding UK blues musicians. A format that spawned a matrix for bands such as The Bluesbreakers, the Organisation, Steampacket, or Colosseum. Although it is hard to imagine today, this band helped pioneer the concept of using amplifiers and their consequent effects on-stage. As time progressed Davies found himself at odds with the many styles and jazz influences the band had adopted. By the following year he had left "Blues Inc" and formed "", moving away from his early teenage influences of and into modern renditions in a Chicago Blues style. With Davies on harmonica, 12-string acoustic or banjo, his early band line-up was , , and . Page's position was short-lived, as he became involved in session work, and he was replaced by ex-Savages guitarist .
The group took up residency at the Marquee in 1963, with added on vocals. The band's stage presentation was also swelled by the inclusion of the vocal backing group "The Velvettes" with Peggy Phango, a trio that had finished touring a UK production of "King Kong". The band released their first single "Country Line Special" in February 1963. A number of further recordings were made before Davies tragically died a year later, just before his 32nd birthday.
The name and format of the band continued under the aegis of Long John Baldry for a while and eventually evolved into "".
Discography
109 releasesPreachin' The Blues (The Cyril Davies Memorial Album)
Cyril Davies · 2014
'Alexis 1957'
Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies · 1984
The Legendary Cyril Davies With Alexis Korner's Breakdown Group And The Roundhouse Four
Cyril Davies · 1970
Country Line Special / Sweet Mary
Cyril Davies · 1969
Blues From The Roundhouse
Alex Korner's Breakdown Group* Featuring Cyril Davis* · 1957
BBC Sessions #1 1962 – 1965
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated* · 2024
Having A Rave-Up! The British R&B Sounds Of 1964
Various · 2024
Shake That Thing! The Blues In Britain 1963-1973
Various · 2023
Live At Klooks Kleek
The Artwoods · 2023
R & B From The Marquee Plus Blues From The Roundhouse
Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated* · 2019
The Complete Warner Bros. Recordings
Alexis Korner · 2019
Every Day I Have The Blues (The Sixties Anthology)
Alexis Korner · 2018
So Who The Hell Is Stack Waddy? The Complete Works 1970-72
Stack Waddy · 2017
Steady Gettin' It (The Complete Recordings 1964-67)
The Artwoods · 2014
The Radio Sounds Of Cyril Davies
Cyril Davies And His Rhythm & Blues All Stars* · 2014
Eruption
Various · 2011
Rare Mod Volume 3 (A Third Volume Of 60s' Underground Rhythm'n'Blues, Psych & Soul)
Various · 2011
This Is The Blues - Volume Two
Various · 2010
British Rock 'N' Roll Anthology
Various · 2009
After Tonight (Ember Beat Vol.3 (1966-67))
Various · 2009
Can You Follow?
Jack Bruce · 2008
Kornerstoned (The Alexis Korner Anthology 1954-1983)
Alexis Korner · 2006
Doin' The Mod Volume Three - Maximum R&B
Various · 2001
Blues And Beyond
Dick Heckstall-Smith And Friends* · 2001
Live At The Royal Albert Hall
The Who & Special Guests* · 2001
Sounds Of The Sixties - 1964: When Britannia Rocked The Waves
Various · 1999
Audio CD
Various · 1997
Knights Of The Blues Table
Various · 1997
White Boy Blues
Various · 1997
The BBC Radio Sessions
Alexis Korner · 1994
Showing 30 of 109 — open Recordz for the full list