Cyril Davies

English blues musician Cyril Davies

Cyril Davies (23 January 1932 – 7 January 1964) was a pioneering English blues harmonica player and the first to bring the blues music genre to the United Kingdom. His work in the early 1960s, particularly with Alexis Korner in the band Blues Incorporated, laid the foundation for the British blues explosion that would follow later in the decade.

Early Life

Cyril Davies was born in Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. From a young age, he showed an interest in American blues music, a genre that was not widely popular in the UK at the time. He initially trained as a panel beater but soon devoted himself to music, particularly the blues harmonica.

Career

Davies's music career began in the late 1950s when he formed his first band, the Blues by Six, which was one of the first British blues bands. However, he is best known for his collaboration with Alexis Korner. Together, they formed Blues Incorporated, a band that played a crucial role in popularizing blues music in Britain. Blues Incorporated was a fluid collective that at various times included future stars of the British music scene, such as Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker.

In 1962, Davies and Korner opened the Ealing Club, a venue that became the birthplace of the British blues scene. The club attracted young musicians who would go on to form bands like The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, and The Animals, all of which were influenced by Davies's work.

Davies was known for his mastery of the harmonica, and his style was heavily influenced by American blues artists like Little Walter and Muddy Waters. His playing was characterized by a raw, expressive tone and a powerful use of the instrument as a lead voice in the band.

Death and Legacy

Tragically, Cyril Davies's career was cut short when he died from leukemia in January 1964, at the age of 31. Despite his brief career, his impact on the British music scene was profound. He is remembered as a pioneer who introduced the blues to a new audience and inspired a generation of musicians.

Davies's influence can be heard in the music of many British bands that followed him, and his work with Blues Incorporated set the stage for the blues-based rock that would dominate the UK music scene in the late 1960s and beyond.

See Also

• British blues
• Alexis Korner
• Blues Incorporated