Brad Davis

Artist Information

Biography

**CLICK the AUDIO Button Above to HEAR Brad's Songs**

Brad Davis spent ten years (1992-2002) performing on stage as a member of Marty Stuart's road band. For the past six years he has played lead acoustic guitar with Earl Scruggs and Friends, and for the past five years he has played lead electric and acoustic guitar with movie actor Billy Bob Thornton's rock band. He spent two years (2003-2004) as the guitar player for the Sam Bush Band and also performed with John Jorgenson's Gypsy jazz Quintet in 2005. He occasionally performs with an exciting new bluegrass band, calling themselves "Greenbroke," consisting of Brad Davis, John Cowan, John Moore, and Dennis Caplinger.
Brad has worked for, or recorded with, Willie Nelson, Emmy Lou Harris, Pam Tillis, The Forester Sisters, Tommy Shaw (Styx), David Lee Roth (Van Halen), Sheryl Crow, Sam Bush, Warren Zevon, and The Sweethearts of the Rodeo. He is currently the host of Commerce County Line, a singer/songwriter television program on the iTelevision network (see www.myccl.tv). Additionally, Brad has recorded two album projects featuring Billy Bob Thornton on Mercury Records and has toured both Europe and the United States as the lead guitar player for Billy Bob Thornton's band. Brad's two solo recordings on FGM Records (http://www.fgmrecords.com/artists/davis.html) "I'm Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down", and "This World Ain't No Child Anymore" were both released to rave reviews. He also appears on an FGM concert DVD video release "Live in Kansas City" with Cody Kilby and Tim May.
A prolific songwriter Brad has had his songs recorded by various country and bluegrass artists, including country star Tim McGraw ("Ain't No Angels"). He has played on Marty Stuart's gold selling album "This Ones Gonna Hurt You", the Marty Stuart "Hit Pack", and Marty's last MCA recording "The Pilgrim". He played on the soundtrack of Steven Seagal's "Fire Down Below", and performed music for Billy Bob Thornton's Miramax releases "Daddy And Them" and "Waking Up In Reno". He also recorded with Sheryl Crow, and others, on the Johnny Cash tribute album "Kindred Spirits", played guitar on Warren Zevon's final Grammy-winning recording, "The Wind", and was on Sam Bush's Sugar Hill release "King of My World".
A talented guitar instructor and writer, Brad has been a columnist for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine (http://www.flatpick.com/) since 1996 and is currently Takamine's main guitar clinician, conducting dozens of music store clinics for Takamine each year (http://www.takamine.com/?fa=davisclinics). He has taught at Steve Kaufman's Flatpick Camp, Nashcamp, Camp Bluegrass, the St. Louis Flatpick Weekend, the Roanoke Bluegrass Weekend, and more. He has also produced four instructional DVDs for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine, "Flatpick Jam", Volumes 1, 2, & 3 and a book/DVD/CD course called "Flatpicking the Blues". Additionally, he has produced several instructional courses for Mel Bay Publications, including the "Blue Book of Speedpicking", and a series of instructional Ear Training Cds. For an extensive list of Brad's instructional material, visit: http://flatpickingmercantile.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=fs31&Category_Code=Brad

For more information about Brad Davis, visit http://www.braddavismusic.com

Instrumentation

Brad Davis - guitar and lead vocals
Greg Davis - banjo and harmony vocals
Tim May - mandolin, Dobro and harmony vocals
Dan Miller - bass

Discography

Sweethearts of the Rodeo: Beautiful Lies (Sugar Hill Records)
wHITE wATER: No Gold on the Highway (Raisin' Cane Records)
Brad Davis: Climbin' Cole Hill (Raisin' Cane Records)
Brad Davis: I'm Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down (FGM Records)
Brad Davis: This World Ain't No Child (FGM Records)
Marty Stuart: This One's Gonna Hurt You (MCA Records)
Marty Stuart: Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best (MCA Records)
Marty Stuart: The Pilgrim (MCA Records)
Marty Stuart & Willie Nelson: We Must Believe In Magic (Olympic)
Billy Bob Thornton: Private Radio (Lonesome Highway Records)
Daisy Dern: Daisy Dern (Mercury Records)
Kindred Spirits: A Tribute to the Songs of Johnny Cash (Sony Records)
O Mickey, Where Art Thou (Disney Productions International)
Billy Bob Thornton: Edge of the World (Sanctuary Records Ltd.)
Warren Zevon: Wind (Virgin Records)
Sam Bush: King of My World (Sugar Hill Records)
New Standard for Flatpicking Guitar (FGM Records)
DocFest: A Musical Tribute to Doc Watson (FGM Records)
Flatpicking Favorites: Hot & Spicy (FGM Records)
Songs for Sophie: A Collings Collective (FGM Records)
Pickin' on Aerosmith: Various Artists (CMH Records)
Where the Bluegrass Grows (CMH Records)
Ain't That America: A Bluegrass Tribute to John Cougar Mellencamp
(CMH Records)
The Southern Side of Van Halen (CMH Records)
Pearls in the Snow: The Songs of Kinky Friedman (Damian)
Rig Rock Deluxe: A Musical Salute to the American Truck Drivers (Upstart)
Hometown News: Wheels (VFR Records)
Tribute to Tradition: Various Artist (Sony)
Roy Clark Sing & Plays Gospel Greats, Vol 1 & 2 (Fine Arts)
Chris Jones: Few Words (Rebel)
Light of Day: A Tribute to Bruce Springsteen (Schoolhouse)
Jambodians: Various Artists (Son Rhea Foundation)
Three Pickers DVD: Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs (Rounder)
Live in Kansas City DVD (FGM Records)
American Roots Music DVD (Palm Pictures)


Soundtracks
Steven Seagal: Fire Down Below (HBO)
Billy Bob Thornton: Daddy and Them (Miramax)
Billy Bob Thornton: Waking Up In Reno (Miramax)
Prince of Egypt-Nashville (DreamWorks)

Official Website

http://www.braddavisontour.com

Audio

• Old Number Nine
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• Cypress Walls
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• This World Ain't No Child
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• Falling
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• Big Timber
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Lyrics

• This World Ain't No Child

Video

I'm Not Through Loving You

Photo Gallery

Press

• Brad Davis CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Brad Davis is a talented guitarist, songwriter, and singer who has spent more than a decade backing ...Brad Davis is a talented guitarist, songwriter, and singer who has spent more than a decade backing up Marty Stuart's rockin' country. He recently worked in Billy Bob Thornton's roots rock-band and has played lead guitar with banjo master Earl Scruggs. The 14 tracks here, both covers and original material, show that Davis can easily hold his own as a lead artist in that company. The title track, as you might expect, leans toward the blues and rock side of country. Then Davis takes a quick turn into bluegrass with the originals "Old Number Nine," "Dawg Diddy," and "Big Timber." "Cypress Walls" and "Where You Belong" tread a more country line, while a cover of the traditional "Rank Stranger" emphasizes the blue side of bluegrass in a duet between Davis and Kelly Knolf. If you enjoy progressive bluegrass, acoustic country, or even some of the rootsier rock bands, you'll like this record. Sam Bush, Thornton, Scruggs, and Jon Randall are among the guests, and it sounds as though they all had a really good time working on it. Davis mixed the tracks, as well, showing a fine ear for the best way to present his music and the ensemble work of his talented friends.

• Brad Davis CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  Having spent the last 10 years attending honky-tonk university as Marty Stuart's lead guitarist, you...Having spent the last 10 years attending honky-tonk university as Marty Stuart's lead guitarist, you could say that Brad Davis has now earned his degree. This mostly acoustic solo debut at last puts the spotlight cleanly on him, despite the presence of heavy-hitting guests like Earl Scruggs, Billy Bob Thornton, Styx's Tommy Shaw and others. Brad also plays bass and drums on most cuts, but the primary focus is on his guitar and mandolin playing, singing and songwriting, and he earns his diploma by doing a fine job of them all.

• Brad Davis CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  never knowing what will come out of the speakers when you pop in an unsolicited CD. Well, truth be t...never knowing what will come out of the speakers when you pop in an unsolicited CD. Well, truth be told, it is not always a joy, but certainly has been in this case!
  
  I admit I'd never heard of Brad Davis. When I read the CD title, I thought I'd hear a blues recording that wouldn't really be appropriate for my reviews. That feeling was lessened when I saw the envelope had flatpick.com on the return address - that didn't sound too bluesy.
  
  This is one of those recordings that is difficult to pigeon-hole. It is acoustic music with a beat. It is blues and country influenced bluegrass. It has some of the high-harmonies of the currently popular roots resurgence. It has great flatpicking instrumentals. It has folk songs. Sort of a guitar stew with lots of interesting bits mixed in.
  
  I believe this harmonious mixture of styles is one of this recording's strengths. Some pure genre CDs can have great tunes, but can become too much if you try to listen to the whole recording in one sitting. "Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down" is currently my favorite CD to play on the road. I brought it into the office to write this review, but it is going right back for my next trip.
  
  Brad Davis has toured five years with Warner Bros. recording artist - The Forester Sisters, two years with The Sweet Hearts of the Rodeo and ten years with Marty Stuart. Brad currently tours with: Earl Scruggs, Marty Stuart and his own band, White Water.
  
  Brad picks exceptionally fine guitar on all tracks, plus mandolin, bass, drums, upright bass and percussion. He sings lead on many of the songs, but also features vocals by Jon Randall Stewart, Billy Bob Thorton, Tommy Shaw, Kelly Knolf and John Jorgenson. Musical assistance is from such as Sam Bush, brother Greg Davis, Jon Randall Stewart, Rob Ickes, Glen Duncan and Earl Scruggs. Five of the 14 tracks were written by Brad Davis.
  
  Brad is active in all phases of guitar music. He has free guitar lesson on his web site and also sells instructional materials including "Bluebook of Speed Picking" and "Country & Bluegrass Rhythm Acoustic Guitar." For the past seven years he has been a columnist for Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.

• Brad Davis CD Review [+ Show ]
  

  You know, with the current resurgence in the popularity of Bluegrass music, a little can go a long w...You know, with the current resurgence in the popularity of Bluegrass music, a little can go a long way...I'm just being honest. Some of the nasal twang, banjo picking sounds can become a blur. Then, along comes Brad Davis! Brad draws the best from Bluegrass and blends it so well with his very unique technique - including "speed picking," individually memorable lyrics, and then tops it all off with support from phenomenal friends - the likes of Billy Bob Thornton and Tommy Shaw of Styx?! I'm Not Gonna Let My Blues Bring Me Down by Brad Davis - add it to your library today - you'll wear grooves in it! My picks? Cut 4 ("Big Timber"), cut 5 ("Tell Me Son") and cut 12 ("Sight of Truth")

Setlist

Basic Requirements

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