Tim Davis (musician)

Timothy Lawrence Davis (November 29, 1943 – September 20, 1988)[1] was a drummer, singer and songwriter, who co-founded the Steve Miller Band.

History

Davis was born in Milwaukee and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin. He played on the first five albums released by the Steve Miller Band and contributed lead and background vocals and songwriting. Davis left the band to work with others, such as Ben Sidran, and to commence a solo career. Shortly after his departure from Miller, Davis joined David Lindley in a band supporting Terry Reid, appearing at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.[2][3]

Davis had a modest hit in 1972, "Buzzy Brown", written by fellow Wisconsin musician and Steve Miller Band co-founder James "Curley" Cooke. Davis continued an association with Steve Miller, contributing two songs, co-written with Miller, to the 1984 Steve Miller Band album, Italian X Rays.[4]

Davis died in 1988 from complications from diabetes at the age of 44.

Discography

Steve Miller Band

• 1968 Children of the Future
• 1968 Sailor
• 1969 Brave New World
• 1969 Your Saving Grace[5]
• 1970 Number 5
• 1972 Anthology[6]
• 1990 The Best of 1968-1973
• 1994 Box Set (3 CD compilation)
• 2003 Young Hearts[7]

Solo

• 1972 Pipe Dream
• 1974 Take Me As I Am

Contributions to Others

• 1967 Chuck Berry, Live at the Fillmore Auditorium[8]
• 1968 Jefferson Airplane, Crown of Creation
• 1971 Ben Sidran, I Lead A Life
• 1973 Ben Sidran, Puttin' In Time On Planet Earth

General Compilations

• 1994 Texas Music, Vol. 3: Garage Bands & Psychedelia (Rhino)[9]
• 1997 The Monterey International Pop Festival, June 16-17-18, 1967 (Rhino); 4-CD set.[10]

References

1. Notice of Death; www.thedeadrockstarsclub.com. See comments of Steve Miller in the liner notes to the Steve Miller Band Box Set (1994).
2. Isle of Wight 3 1970.
3. Davis had earlier appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival, with the Steve Miller Band before the band had been signed to a major record label.
4. Susan Masino, Famous Wisconsin Musicians (2003), with an introduction by Les Paul, p. 28.
5. Title track written and sung by Tim Davis.
6. First compilation album of The Steve Miller Band, comprising material from the band's first five albums. "Your Saving Grace", originally credited solely to Davis on Your Saving Grace is credited on Anthology to Davis, Steve Miller and Ben Sidran. Credit reverts solely to Davis by the time of The Best of 1968-1973 (1990) and the Box Set (1994).
7. Another compilation/anthology; "Complete Greatest Hits".
8. Chuck Berry being backed by "The Steve Miller Blues Band", including Davis, as a precursor to The Steve Miller Band.
9. Includes one Steve Miller track, "Mercury Blues", with Davis on drums.
10. One track credited to Steve Miller, though appearance was by "The Steve Miller Blues Band": "Mercury Blues".