In The World of Indigenous America, Brian Wright-McLeod writes of the “powwow style” and its influence in popular music, as exemplified by such artists as Jim Pepper, Peter DePoe, and Jesse Ed Davis:
“Jesse Ed Davis (Comanche-Kiowa) began his work as a leading session guitarist in the early 1960s when he accompanied country singer Conway Twitty. The powwow influences in Davis’s music are both subtle and yet apparent to the trained ear. From his first solo album, Jesse Davis (Atco, 1970), the song ‘Washita Love Child’ contains both lyrical references (‘And I did that powwow thing’) and the combined background vocals of Merry Clayton, Clydie King, and Gram Parsons, utilizing the vocal refrain of ‘hey-ya-hey’ typical of the powwow song style, but arranged by Davis as a standard back-up vocal. The back beat and rhythm of the song are obviously powwow-based.”
Edited by ROBERT WARRIOR
The autobiographical “Washita Love Child” – with its driving beat and guest guitar solo by Eric Clapton – seems the obvious choice for the album’s opening track, and yet it would get bumped to the #3 spot:
“Washita Love Child” Jesse Ed Davis with Eric Clapton 1970
Musician credits for Jesse Davis
- Guitar, Keyboards & Vocals: Jesse Edwin Davis III
- Guitar: Eric Clapton & Joel Scott Hill
- Backing Vocals: Bobby Jones, Clydie King, Gloria Jones, Gram Parsons, Maxine Willard, Merry Clayton, Nikki Barclay & Vanetta Fields
- Keyboards: Ben Sidran, John Simon, Larry Knechtel & Leon Russell
- Bass: Billy Rich & Steve Thompson
- Drums: Alan White, Bruce Rowland, Chuck Blackwell & Steve Mitchell
- Percussion: Alan Yoshida, Jackie Lomax, Johnnie Ware, Pat Daley, Pete Waddington & Sandy Konikoff
- Tenor Saxophone: Frank Mayes
- Tenor Saxophone: Jerry Jumonville [solo]
- Trombone & Trumpet: Darrell Leonard
- Baritone Saxophone & Clarinet: James Gordon
- Producer, Arranger & Album Cover Concept: Jesse Edwin Davis III
- Cover Painting: Jesse Edwin Davis II
Jesse Ed Trivia That Might Blow Your MInd, If Slightly
~ Jesse Ed Davis released “Sue Me Sue You Blues” in 1972 before the song’s author, George Harrison, issued his own version on 1973’s Living in the Material World.
~ Jesse Ed Davis provided musical support for two artists who would each record distinctive versions of Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” for debut albums released in 1971 & 1973, respectively: Leon Russell (guitar) and Bryan Ferry (backing vocals).
~ In 1973, when Jesse Ed Davis and Iggy & the Stooges shared the same label for exactly one album, Columbia released a “split EP” (4 songs on a 7-inch 33 rpm record) that paired the two artists, bizarrely, for the first and last time.
~ In 1987, the year before his untimely death, Jesse Ed Davis contributed a guitar solo on the closing track “At Last” for Scott Colby‘s Slide of Hand album on respected punk label, SST (Black Flag, Minutemen, Descendents, Bad Brains, Hüsker Dü & Meat Puppets, et al.)
Jesse Ed Helped Breathe Life into the Following Songs:
~ “Doctor My Eyes” — the breakout hit from Jackson Browne’s 1972 debut album.
~ “Heal Your Heart” on Stevie Miller Band’s 1972 album, Recall the Beginning…A Journey from Eden.
~ “Open Up the Watergate (And Let the Sunshine In)” on 1974 Bert Jansch album, L.A. Turnaround.
~ “(What a) Wonderful World” from David Bromberg’s Midnight on the Water album from 1975.
~ “Stand By Me” (slide guitar solo) on John Lennon’s hit version from 1975’s Rock ‘n’ Roll album.
~ “Don’t Think … Feel” from 1976 Neil Diamond album, Beautiful Noise.
~ “Hard Workin’ Man” by Captain Beefheart with Jack Nitzsche & Friends from 1978 soundtrack album, Blue Collar.
Jesse Ed Played Guitar (et al.) on the Following Albums
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Taj Mahal Taj Mahal 1968
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Taj Mahal The Natch'l Blues 1968
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Rolling Stones & Friends Rock & Roll Circus 1968 [Taj Mahal]
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Taj Mahal Giant Steps 1969
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Jesse [Ed] Davis Jesse Davis 1970
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George Harrison & Friends Concert for Bangladesh 1971
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Gene Clark White Light 1971
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Roger Tillison Roger Tillison's Album 1971
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Buffy Sainte-Marie She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina 1971
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John Lee Hooker Endless Boogie 1971
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B.B. King L.A. Midnight 1971
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Albert King Lovejoy 1971
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Albert Collins There's Gotta Be a Change 1971
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Lightnin' Hopkins It's a Sin to Be Rich 1972
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Jesse Ed Davis Ululu 1972
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Alex Richman Salty 1972
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Jim Pulte Out the Window 1972
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Jesse Ed Davis Keep Me Comin' 1973
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Rod Taylor Rod Taylor 1973
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Gene Clark No Other 1974
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John Lennon Walls and Bridges 1974
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Ringo Starr Goodnight Vienna 1974
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George Harrison Extra Texture 1975
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Harry Nilsson Pussy Cats 1974
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Harry Nilsson Duit on Mon Dei 1975
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Keith Moon Both Sides of the Moon 1975
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Van Dyke Parks Clang of the Yankee Reaper 1975
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Jackie DeShannon New Arrangement 1975
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Dion Born to Be With You 1975
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Mac Davis Burnin' Thing 1975
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Harry Nilsson ... That's the Way It Is + Sandman 1976
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David Blue Cupid's Arrow 1976
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Jimmy Cliff Follow My Mind 1976
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Leonard Cohen Death of a Ladies' Man 1977
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Ben Sidran A Little Kiss in the Night 1978
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Jack Nitzsche & Friends Soundtrack from 'Blue Collar' 1978