"Little Walter Lifetime Achievement Award Winner"
Little Sammy Davis, vocalist and harmonica player has been
called a blues icon. He has been a musician since the age of eight
and is a living history of the blues with the musical chops to back
it up. Born in the Mississippi Delta, he recorded with Earl Hooker
and Slim Harpo and has been in bands with Albert King, Muddy Waters,
Pinetop Perkins, Jimmy Reed and
many others at the height of the
Chicago blues scene. Born in Winona, Mississippi in 1928, Davis cut
his first records for Henry Stone's Rockin' label in Miami, in 1953,
supported Earl Hooker for the same label, toured
with Jimmy Liggins,
hung around the South, headed for Chicago, then Poughkeepsie where
he cut for Trix Records. Little Sammy Lives in Orange County in New
Yorks Hudson Valley and Performs with Levon Helm as well. Blues
Magazine: "Davis as singer and harp player has the charm of
Williamson. He plays with authority and variety, no doubt learned
over years of sitting in with others, yet Davis has a to-date
sound." Chicago Tribune: "Davis' singing and harp playing can send
chills down your spine and he is supported by a lot of subtle kicks
in the pants from this ace rhythm section, which consists of first
class musicians." Rhythm & News: "It's not a exaggeration to say
that he was the highlight of the show for most of the crowd, and I
think a lot of people felt the excitement of discovering something
really special that not everyone knows about yet. His playing was
enough like Little Walter's to impress even the staunchest harp fan
with his feel for Walter's tone and nuance, but different enough to
let you know that Sam is his own man."