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  • Oral History

Don Davis

August 5, 1983 OHC84 142 min.
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Biography


Country musician, publisher, producer, and television personality. Career most active 1940s-1960s. Steel guitarist. Joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1945 as a member of Pee Wee King’s band. As a session musician he appeared on over 3,000 recordings. His producing credits include Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Lefty Frizzell.

Interview Summary

1983 August 5
(2 hours, 22 minutes)
Musician and producer Don Davis talks about his career in country music, focusing on his experiences as a musician and his work in publishing. Discussion includes memories from his session work, including his work with Hank Williams; the working styles of different producers, including Fred Rose and Paul Cohen; experiences as a traveling musician; his steel playing style compared with peers Jerry Byrd and Little Roy Wiggins; memories from the tent show circuit; his association with Pamper Music; working with Harlan Howard; and the rate of return for singles and albums during the 1940s, 1950, and 1960s.