Jesse Edwin Davis (September 21, 1944 - June 22, 1988) was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose. Born in Norman, Oklahoma, Davis began his musical career in Oklahoma City. ...show more

Jesse Edwin Davis (September 21, 1944 - June 22, 1988) was an American guitarist. He was well regarded as a session artist. His death in 1988 is attributed to a drug overdose. Born in Norman, Oklahoma, Davis began his musical career in Oklahoma City.

His father, Jesse Ed Davis II, was Kiowa and Cherokee while his mother's side was Kiowa. He graduated from Northeast High School in 1962. Davis began his musical career in the late 1950s playing in Oklahoma City and surrounding cities with John Ware (later Emmylou Harris' drummer), John Selk (later Donovan's bass player), Jerry Fisher (later Blood, Sweat & Tears vocalist) Mike Boyle, Chris Frederickson, drummer Bill Maxwell (later Andrae Crouch and Koinonia) and others. By the mid 1960s Davis had quit the University of Oklahoma and went touring with Conway Twitty.

Davis eventually moved to California, where, through his friendship with Levon Helm, he became friendly with Leon Russell. He became a session player before joining Taj Mahal and playing guitar and piano on his first three albums. Davis played slide, lead and rhythm, country even jazz during his three-year stint, making an appearance with the band as a musical guest in the The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Davis later went on to work closely with ex-Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison, playing guitar on several of their solo albums. ...show less