Biography

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Little Sammy Davis – I Ain’t Lyin’
Delmark DE 682

Blues singer Little Sammy Davis blues career was interrupted for two decades only to come back and become a close musical associate of Levon Helm. He died on February 16, 2018, at a nursing home in Middletown, NY at the age of 89.
Davis had a long history of working with some of the greats. Born in Winona, MS, he learned the harmonica at the age of eight and, in the 40’s and 50’s, played with such artists as Pinetop Perkins, Ike Turner and Earl Hooker. By the late-50’s, he had settled in Chicago, playing with some of the cities preeminent bluesmen such as Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed and Little Walter.

Settling in Poughkeepsie, NY in the early-70’s, Davis recorded his first single, “Someday Blues”, for a local folklorist but, when his wife died in 1973, he disappeared from the music scene and life in general.

It wasn’t until 1990 that a chance conversation in a Poughkeepsie barbershop between DJ Doug Price and a local resident turned up Davis who was playing at a local club. Price began playing the few recordings of Davis which came to the attention of Fred Scribner who appeared on Don Imus’ show on New York’s WFAN radio. Scribner arranged a new recording session for Davis and an interview with Imus which led to his making numerous appearances on Imus in the Morning over the next few years.

Davis and Scribner formed a duo that toured the U.S. In 1996, Davis recorded his first album, I Ain’t Lyin’ for the Delmark label which led to him being named the Comeback Artist of the Year by Living Blues magazine. More recordings followed along with the duo working as the “house band” for Imus’ annual fundraisers.

In the early-2000’s, Davis was brought to see Levon Helms’ band in Woodstock, NY and he became friends with the former Band drummer, joining him at appearances. Eventually, Scribner was brought on as guitarist and the Levon Helm Band was born. In 2005, one of their sessions was recorded for the album Levon Helm Band Starring Little Sammy Davis: The Midnight Ramble Sessions, Volume One.

Little Sammy Davis - Vocals, Harmonica
Fred Scribner - guitar
Tom Hunter - piano (1, 12, 13)
Brad Lee Sexton - bass
Brad Scribner - drums


1 I Ain't Lyin'
Arranged By – Brad Lee Sexton*
Written-By – Davis*
3:39
2 Daniel
Arranged By – Brad Lee Sexton*
Written-By – Davis*
4:09
3 Sammy's Shuffle
Written-By – F. Scribner*, Davis*
2:44
4 Shorty 3:47
5 That's My Girl
Written-By – Davis*
3:51
6 Someday
Written-By – Davis*
4:29
7 Devil's Trail
Written-By – Scribner*, Sexton*, Scribner*, Davis*
3:09
8 When I Leave
Written-By – Scribner*, Davis*
4:16
9 Bad Luck Blues
Arranged By – B. Scribner*, Sexton*
Written-By – Davis*
2:49
10 Somebody's Fool
Written-By – Sexton*, Davis*
2:22
11 Hey Little Girl
Written-By – Davis*
4:47
12 California Blues
Written-By – Davis*
5:13
13 "I-Man" Stomp
Written-By – Scribner*, Sexton*, Scribner*, Davis*
4:51
14 Play Me For A Fool
Written-By – Davis*

produced by Fred Scribner

recorded by Carl Paruolo at Video Works, May 26, 1993 & November 10, 1994 in Milford, PA

dedicated to Brad Lee Sexton (1948-1995)

Little Sammy Davis Biography by Bill Dahl

No, he never hung out with the Rat Pack on the martini-stained Vegas strip, and it's highly doubtful that he honors requests for "The Candy Man." This Little Sammy Davis is a veteran harp blower with a discography dating back to 1952 and a fine '90s debut album on Delmark, I Ain't Lyin'. Where's he been all these years? Poughkeepsie, NY, of course.

Davis learned his way around a harmonica at age eight. He eventually exited Mississippi for Florida, where he worked in the orange groves and met immaculate guitarist Earl Hooker. Davis cut four sides in 1952 for Henry Stone's Rockin' label in Miami as Little Sam Davis (with Hooker providing classy accompaniment) that comprised the bulk of his discography until many years later. He visited Chicago in 1953, hanging out with harp genius Little Walter, Jimmy Reed, and Muddy Waters. But Davis rambled on, eventually settling in Poughkeepsie.

Other than a 45 for Pete Lowry's Trix logo, things were pretty quiet for the hero until 1995, when he joined forces with guitarist Fred Scribner and got back into playing. He became a favorite guest of popular New York morning radio personality Don Imus, had his own band and an album on the shelves, and hopefully, nobody mistook him for another diminutively proportioned entertainer by the same name.