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| Photo
by Robert Vernon Wilson/Natural Photography |
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“That Guitar Is Like
A Part Of Your Body…!” Garrick
Davis first had the dream one night when he was
fourteen years old. He was playing a white Fender
Stratocaster with a band, the stage lights were
a “spiritual blue with just a tinge of red”
and the audience was swaying to the rhythm of the
music. In reality, Davis was still learning on his
first guitar, a $45 Harmony electric, and still
hadn’t yet written a song of his own.
Fast forward to the present: Thousands
of performances, songwriting awards, a catalog of
songs, two independently released CD’s, a
loyal fanbase at home in the San Francisco area,
national solo touring, touring Europe with his full
band as the next frontier, of course, accompanied
by his white Stratocaster.
With Davis’
hands upon it, a guitar rings like a bell, speaks
like Martin Luther King, or roars like a fine
sports car on an open country road. After a performance,
an excited fan described Garrick’s ability
saying, ”That guitar is like part of your
body! You expose your heart and soul through your
axe!” Match the masterful guitar skills
with a powerful baritone singing voice, great
stage presence born of passion to share a wonderful
gift and you’ll understand how the son of
a classical singer and big band drummer is so
driven to fulfill his self-proclaimed destiny.
Davis has a desire to make a difference in people’s
lives through his music’s positive yet grounded
inspirational philosophies. Lead reviewer Suzanne
Glass of Indie-Music.com (a leading independent
music website) wrote of Davis’ 2001 debut
“Glass Half Full” – “Songs
of wisdom, songs of dues paying, songs of experience,
and ultimately, songs of winning the struggle.
”Mark Burkhardt of the Palo Alto Weekly
states, “Davis' guitar playing, which has
a surprisingly raw edge, is memorable”,
and goes on to say, “Davis doesn't write
any stinkers and, at times, can be downright affecting.”
Larry Batiste, president of the San Francisco
chapter of the Recording Academy, expressed to
Garrick that he should release a live album after
having seen him perform fronting his Fabulous
FunkyBand at a chapter showcase in San Francisco
to an elated audience of his peers in Novenber
2004.
A few months later…
Davis’ September 2005 release, titled“The
Show”, include a CD and DVD that display
the artist in potent form at Redwood City’s
Little Fox in February 2005. His masterful performance
on acoustic and electric guitar, passionate vocals
and infectious joy create a dynamic, heartfelt
music experience on this album backed by his formidable
5-piece Fabulous FunkyBand as well as on the opening
track where he took charge in performing Jimi
Hendrix’ “Voodoo Child(Slight Return)”to
an anticipating sold out audience. The songwriter’s
original Blues/Funk/Folk material combine virtuostic
instrumental freedom with mature lyrical themes
that address facing challenge with clarity and
resolve. It is through this formula that Davis
invites his audience to thrive and celebrate life,
including its ups and downs knowing there are
no guarantees.
The career Garrick Davis has crafted is justified
by his sense of commitment to lead a life well-lived.
His live performances display the urgency of this
commitment in a most outstanding fashion, no matter
the venue, or whether he is fronting his band
or performing solo. Garrick’s raw talents
and the unbridled joy he displays in sharing them
are an inspiration to all who genuinely desire
to do the best they can with their own circumstances.
Davis states “I choose this (life). It also
chose me. Performing to an audience is a primal
need, almost sexual.” Witnessing the man
on stage is an opportunity to be inspired and
challenged, taking you where you need to go and
may not even know it yet. When the vision of a
teenager matures into the undauntable vision of
a man, step in and be with him!
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