Jon Christopher Davis (born June 27, 1968) is an American singer-songwriter-producer whose musical style encompasses rock, soul and country. His songs have been covered by Dolly Parton, Hal Ketchum, Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sherrie Austin, Tammy Cochran and various indie artists. His music has been featured on ABC, CBS, FOX, CMT and in USA Today, Billboard Magazine, Texas Highways and the Washington Post. His discography includes work with Vince Gill, Radney Foster, Rodney Crowell, Steve Lukather (Toto), Stan Lynch (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Dann Huff (Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban) and David Z (Prince, Jonny Lang).
Early career
Davis began his career in 1990 by playing the
Dallas
Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...
bar scene. In 1996, he was encouraged to move to
Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and t ...
by Grammy Award-winner,
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album ''Diamonds & Dirt''. ...
. In 1998, Davis signed with
Warner/Chappell Music
Warner Chappell Music, Inc. is an American music publishing company and a subsidiary of the Warner Music Group. Warner Chappell Music's catalogue consists of over 1.4 million compositions and 65,000 composers, with offices in over 40 countries.
...
where he wrote songs for major-label artists. The following year, he signed an artist development deal with
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...
. After six months, the label considered the recordings to be too left of center and eventually shelved the project. Those self-produced recordings caught the ear of hit producer, Dann Huff, who later signed Davis to his new subsidiary label under
Sony Records
Sony Records was a record label founded by R&B duo Ike & Tina Turner in 1963. It was not affiliated with Sony Group Corporation.
Ike Turner produced singles by members of the Kings of Rhythm and the Ikettes on Sony Records. Records on the la ...
.
2002–2007
In 2002, Davis signed with
MCA Records
MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group.
Pre-history
MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wi ...
where fellow Texas singer-songwriter,
Radney Foster
Radney Muckleroy Foster (born July 20, 1959) is an American country music singer-songwriter, musician and music producer. Initially a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, Foster made his recording debut as part of the Foster & Lloyd duo, recordin ...
, came on board as producer. Davis also signed a new publishing deal with
BMG Publishing. When MCA decided to not release the record, Davis returned to his Texas roots and signed with the indie label,
Palo Duro Records
Palo Duro Records is an independent record label established in 2001 to focus primarily on Texas-based singer-songwriters and bands. The label specializes in musical styles from the Americana, country music, alternative country and Texas mus ...
. After his debut album received a national release in 2006, ''
USA Today
''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virg ...
'' called his song, The Bottom Line, "One of the most intriguing tracks from the present, past and near future." The album also caught the attention of renowned music critic,
Robert K. Oermann
Robert Karl Oermann is a Nashville-based music journalist and author who is recognized as an authority on country music. Oermann is a long-time regular contributor to the trade publication ''MusicRow'', for which he writes a weekly column.
Biog ...
– "I’m a huge fan of this man’s album. Its second single sizzles with zesty rhythm, yelping vocals, sidewinder guitar and a ridiculously catchy melody. The major-label 'stars' on
Music Row
Music Row is a historic district located southwest of downtown Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Widely considered the heart of Nashville's entertainment industry, Music Row has also become a metonymous nickname for the music industry as a w ...
have nothing on this guy."
2008–2013
In 2008, Davis released the patriotic single, The Boy I Left Behind, with fellow Texas singer-songwriter,
Deryl Dodd
Deryl Dwaine Dodd (born April 12, 1964) is an American Texas country music artist. Originally a regular on the Texas club circuit, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, soon finding work as a lead guitar player, background vocalist and songwriter ...
. It became the official theme song for The American Fallen Soldiers Project.
In 2009, Davis was the Texas statewide voice for
TXU
TXU or txu may refer to:
*TXU Corporation (formerly "Texas Utilities") a USA group companies
**TXU Energy, energy generation subsidiary of TXU Corp.
**TXU Energi, subsidiary of TXU Europe, formerly "The Energy Company"
*txu, ISO:639 code for the K ...
Energy. That same year, he released "Demos From the Vault (1999–2009)." The double album features guest appearances by
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist ...
, Radney Foster,
Jon Randall
Jon Randall Stewart (born February 17, 1969) is an American producer, songwriter, and musician.
His career began as a guitarist for Emmylou Harris' Nash Ramblers with whom he won his first Grammy for their ''Live at the Ryman'' album in 1992. ...
,
Steve Lukather
Steven Lee Lukather (born October 21, 1957) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a stead ...
(Toto) and Stan Lynch (The Heartbreakers).
In 2010, Davis was awarded Song of the Year by the
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. Established in 1913, the society is organized into six geographical regions of both medical and lay volunteers operating in more tha ...
.
In 2012, Davis was a featured artist on Troubadour TX, a national TV show following the careers of Texas singer-songwriters.
In 2013, LSA Burger Co. (named after his top 40 dance hall track, Lone Star Attitude) opened in Denton, TX. A second location is in The Colony, TX.
There are also two airport stores named after Lone Star Attitude located at
DFW International Airport
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport , also known as DFW Airport, is the primary international airport serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and the North Texas Region in the U.S. state of Texas.
It is the largest hub for American Ai ...
.
2014–present
In 2014, Davis released the album, "Last Night's Dinner Party."
In 2016, Davis collaborated with CMA Song of the Year nominee,
Max T. Barnes
Max Troy Barnes (born October 25, 1962) is an American country music singer-songwriter studio musician and producer. He is the son of songwriter Max D. Barnes. He has written songs with sales over 20 million records. Barnes resides on a ranch n ...
, on several singles and produced eight music videos.
In 2018, Davis released the album, "New Wind Blowing."
In 2020, Davis released the EP, "The Ride."
Davis is currently working on a new band project with Stan Lynch (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Don Henley) called The Speaker Wars.
Discography
;Albums
* ''Jon Christopher Davis Live'' (2005)
* ''Jon Christopher Davis'' (2006)
* ''Demos from the Vault (1999–2009)''
* ''Last Night's Dinner Party'' (2014)
* ''New Wind Blowing'' (2018)
* ''The Ride'' (2020)
References
External links
* https://www.jonchristopherdavis.com/
Facebook page* https://www.instagram.com/jonchristopherdavis/
*http://countrymusic.about.com/od/cdreviewsmz/fr/jcdavis.htm
*http://www.allmusic.com/album/jon-christopher-davis-r849749/review
*http://artreach.smugmug.com/Community-Programs/Sept-2010-Texas-Music-Project/13601132_PKsRW#992217115_rSehu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Jon Christopher
American country singer-songwriters
Living people
1968 births