Jesse Ed Davis

Native American session guitarist originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A Kiowa/Comanche/Cheyenne/Seminole/Muscogee American Indian, Davis played in country star [a333391]’s band in his native Oklahoma before moving to Los Angeles and quickly picking up session work backing Junior Markham, Leon Russell, Delaney & Bonnie, and more.

After playing on [a15158]’s first three albums, Davis amassed a resume of sessions that included [a137224] and [a37729], [a46481], [a152685], [a270573], and [a11012], as well as standout solos on [a59792]’s “[m=178359]” and [a200567]’s “[m=231761].”

In the late ’80s, Davis wrote and played the music for the poetry of Indian activist [a396964], their band was called Grafitti Man. After battling addiction most of his career, Davis died of an apparent overdose at age 43.

Born 21 September 1944, died 22 June 1988