Jesse Ed Davis
| Jesse Edwin Davis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jesse Edwin Davis III |
| Born |
21 September 1944 Norman, Oklahoma, United States |
| Died | 22 June 1988 (aged 43) Venice, Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Rock, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Session musician, sideman |
| Instruments | Electric guitar, slide guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–1980s |
| Labels | Atco |
| Associated acts | Taj Mahal, Gene Clark, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, George Harrison, Jackson Browne, John Lee Hooker |
| Notable instruments | |
| Fender Telecaster, Gibson SG, mandolin | |
Jesse Edwin Davis (September 21, 1944 – June 22, 1988) was a Native American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 was attributed to a drug overdose.
Davis was born in Norman, Oklahoma. His father, Jesse Ed Davis II, was Comanche, and his mother's side was Kiowa. His father was an accomplished artist known for his "true Indian" painting style; his works were exhibited in the capitol in Oklahoma City.
Davis graduated from Northeast High School in 1962. He began his musical career in the late 1950s in Oklahoma City and surrounding cities with John Ware (later a drummer for Emmylou Harris), John Selk (later a bass player for Donovan), Jerry Fisher (later a vocalist with Blood, Sweat & Tears), Mike Boyle, Chris Frederickson, drummer Bill Maxwell (later with Andrae Crouch and Koinonia) and others.
Davis attended the University of Oklahoma but by the mid-1960s had quit school and went touring with Conway Twitty.
Davis eventually moved to California. For eight years, he lived in Marina del Rey, with his companion, Patti Daley, and her son, Billy. Through his friendship with Levon Helm, he became friends with Leon Russell, who introduced him to session work. Davis joined Taj Mahal and played guitar and piano on Mahal's first three albums. He played slide, lead and rhythm, country and even jazz during his three-year stint with Mahal, making an appearance with the band as a musical guest in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.
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