Biography

“She wields an electric guitar as if it were a wand.” - Los Angeles Times

“Davies’ playing is extraordinary - full of propulsion and energy and melodic invention…” – People Magazine

“I believe my reputation backs up my ability to recognize exceptional blues guitarists. Such a one is Debbie Davies. ” – John Mayall

A pioneering woman in the world of electric blues guitar and a veteran of 22 years on the road, Debbie Davies brings her seasoned licks and soulful sensitivity to her twelfth solo release, the groundbreaking, all instrumental HOLDIN’ COURT. Along with a collection of her own originals, this VizzTone release is peppered with homages to the electric blues players of the 1960s such as Otis Rush, Albert Collins, Gatemouth Brown, and Kenny Burrell, who all inspired her to pick up the guitar and play this music in the first place. Having shared the studio and stage with a veritable “who’s who” of top blues artists (Albert Collins, John Mayall, Duke Robillard, Bob Margolin, Coco Montoya, Tab Benoit, Charlie Musselwhite, Double Trouble and more), this time Debbie brings her road tested trio into the studio and keeps it simple. With the addition of Paul Opalach on the organ, the sound is classic and tight.

“For several years now I’ve been getting requests from friends and fans to make an all instrumental CD. So I reached back to my roots; to the great electric guitar players circa 1960. For some of us, these instrumentals became the templates and building blocks for our own playing. Back in the day, we would painfully play that vinyl treasure over and over, trying to pull each and every note off of it in an attempt to duplicate the Master’s tone and phrasings.”

Growing up in Los Angeles in the 1960’s, Davies immersed herself in classic blues and R&B and became captivated by the sounds of the British blues-rock bands, particularly the electric guitar of Eric Clapton. She picked up an electric guitar and pursued her dream with the passion of an artist and the soul of a rebel. Debbie cut her teeth playing in blues and rock’n’roll bands in the San Francisco Bay area before returning to Los Angeles in 1984, where she landed the lead guitar spot in an all-female band led by wife of British blues pioneer John Mayall. In 1988 she was recruited by Albert Collins to join the Ice Breakers and for the next three years she was a featured guitarist performing behind one of the most innovative bluesmen of all time. “I stepped through a door into the real blues world when I joined Albert’s band,” Davies says. Since leaving Albert’s band in 1991, Debbie has struck out on her own, earning the love and respect of her peers and a worldwide fan base. She has released 11 CD’s, been honored with countless nominations and a Blues Music (WC Handy) Award, and continues to grow as one of the world’s outstanding blues players.