Morgan Davis: A Lifetime of Blues, Awards, and Musical Influence
Joe Ruicci 
It was 1993 when I first heard Morgan Davis.
He had recently released his new CD “Live – Morgan Davis Band”. A good friend of Joe’s Place (Marc Neveu) shared the cd with me and from the moment I listened to his CD, I decided I had to have Morgan Davis come entertain us at Joe’s Place (brick & mortar, located in Port Colborne, ON)
ALLAN DUFFY – BASS
JEOFF ARSENAULT – DRUMS
Morgan Davis was the real deal. A true Bluesman. Just what Joe’s Place Loves.
When I finally got to meet Morgan, I realized that not only was he a great talent, but a true Gentleman. No ego present. The kind of guy you would be proud to call your friend.
He didn’t come alone but had Alan Duffy (R.I.P.) on bass and Jeoff Arsenault on drums. What an awesome trio. You could not ask for a better lineup of world class musicians.
To say this was a great show would be an understatement. And of course we invited Morgan to come back multiple times and became a favourite with Joe’s Place regulars and staff.
Recently I was happily made aware of a video of Morgan at Joe’s Place that was recorded by a member of the audience, Doug Smith. I am proud to share this with you all.
Morgan Davis was born in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1950s.
In 1962, his family moved to Southern California.
At around age 16 he began playing guitar. His early musical influences came from the R&B/blues/rock & roll he heard growing up (Jimmy Reed; Ike & Tina Turner; Chuck Berry; Fats Domino).
The folk/roots side also entered his awareness via Bob Dylan; and earlier country-blues figures like Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Jefferson.
He attended Long Beach State College, where he became active in the anti-war movement. During the draft era he refused student deferment and opted to leave the U.S. for Canada. He moved to Toronto around 1968. (morgandavis.com)
Morgan Davis Bands & Early Musical Associations
Once in Toronto, Davis immersed himself in the local blues/roots scene. He observed and sometimes sat in with prominent blues figures who came through (Muddy Waters; Howlin’ Wolf; Buddy Guy; Junior Wells; Son House; Bukka White; Johnny Shines). (morgandavis.com)
His early band work includes:
The Rhythm Rockets — one of his first bands. They played vintage rock & roll, country and blues. (morgandavis.com)
Knights of the Mystic Sea — a band he led, which also perhaps bridged between blues, rock and dance-oriented material in earlier years. (morgandavis.com)
Over time Davis elected to perform solo or with small ensembles, particularly focusing on his own compositions and country-blues tradition. (morgandavis.com)
He has also backed or opened for a wide set of blues legends: Willie Dixon; Albert King; John Hammond; John Lee Hooker; Albert Collins; Dr. John. He has also played with Hubert Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim, Snooky Pryor, etc. (morgandavis.com)
Morgan Davis Discography
Here are some of the key albums, songs, and recordings in Davis’s discography, along with awards where applicable:
| Album / Key Recording | Year / Label / Notable Info |
|---|---|
| Blues Medicine | ca. 1999. One of his earlier well-received albums. (citizenfreak.com) |
| Painkiller | Released 2003, on Electro-Fi Records. Won multiple Maple Blues Awards and the JUNO Award for Blues Album of the Year. (Wikipedia) |
| Drive My Blues Away | A later solo project, with stripped-down arrangements, paying homage to older country/delta blues style as well as including originals and tributes. (njnnetwork.com) |
| I Got My Own | Released in 2014 on Electro-Fi. (Spotify) |
His song “Why’d You Lie” is one of his best‐known compositions; it became a hit via a cover by Colin James on James’ 1988 debut.
Another track frequently cited is “Reefer Smokin’ Man,” described often as a blues cult classic.
The total output includes: two 45 rpm singles, two LPs, and at least nine CDs over his multi-decade recording career. (morgandavis.com)
Morgan Davis: Tours & Live Performance
Davis has toured extensively across Canada, the United States, and Europe. (morgandavis.com)
He typically performed around 200 shows per year for much of his career. (morgandavis.com)
Some highlights of his live performance history include opening for major blues artists (as noted above), backing up Dr. John, and regular appearances in blues clubs (including Joe’s Place, Port Colborne) and festivals (including Niagara Blues & Jazz Society’s Welland Downtown Music Series)
After moving in 2001 to Nova Scotia, he continued to tour while also making that region his home base. (Wikipedia)
Morgan Davis Musical Direction & Influences
His Early influences include R&B / Rock & Roll from Detroit & the Southern U.S.; folk/blues revival artists; classic country-blues from the 1920s-30s; the “Chicago blues greats” when he moved to Toronto. (morgandavis.com)
He draws from the delta blues tradition, “country blues,” while using electric guitar settings, slide, and even cigar-box guitar in later solo performances. (morgandavis.com)
He values authenticity and tradition, but combines that with his own song writing — often infused with wit, humour, and a storytelling element. (morgandavis.com)
In terms of performance style: stripped arrangements (solo or small band), with respect for the older blues forms, but not trapped inside nostalgia; he continues writing and evolving. (njnnetwork.com)
Morgan Davis: Awards & Recognition
Juno Award for Painkiller (Blues Album of the Year) in 2003. (Wikipedia)
Multiple Maple Blues Awards including categories like Male Vocalist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Producer, “Blues With A Feeling Award” among others. (The Sound Cafe)
Morgan Davis: Social Media / Modern Presence
Davis maintains a website (“MorganDavis.com”), which includes tour dates, a “scrapbook” of photos and history, and updates. (morgandavis.com)
On streaming platforms (e.g. Spotify) his albums such as I Got My Own (2014), Home Away From Home (2017), Drive My Blues Away, Painkiller, Blues Medicine are available. (Spotify)
Regarding social media “reels” or video-short content: I found Morgan Davis 🦋 lifestyle Creator (@morganmdavis) on Instagram with ~22K followers. However, that appears to be not the blues musician Morgan Davis. The “lifestyle creator” profile’s content (reels, vlogs, family, etc.) does not align with the musical career of the blues guitarist. (Instagram)
For the musician Davis, I didn’t find a strong public presence of short-video reel content (TikTok, Instagram Reels) under his own name with confirmed authenticity (as of the sources checked). It’s possible he uses social media more for announcing shows and sharing photos, but not for frequent reel-style promotion.
He continues to tour (when not restricted by external factors like the COVID pandemic) and to perform live, often in solo or small band format. (morgandavis.com)