Gail Davies
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Gail Davies | |
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Formerly of | Wild Choir |
Website | Gail Davies official website |
Gail Davies (born Patricia Gail Dickerson; June 5, 1948)
Gail Davies established herself as a successful singer and songwriter during the 1970s and 1980s, scoring numerous Top 10 and Top 20 Billboard hits. She was one of country music's most influential artists, becoming the genre's first female record producer. She has been cited as a role model for other female singers, including Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Pam Tillis.
Early life and career
Gail Davies was born in
Encouraged by her older brother,
Height of her career
Unhappy with the production of her first album, Gail switched to
The year 1982 showed that Davies was not slowing down. She released her third self-produced album Giving Herself Away.
Warner Bros. Records released her last album for the label What Can I Say in 1983.[2] Although there were some sizable hits from this record, including two Top 20 singles – "You're a Hard Dog (To Keep Under the Porch)" and a self-penned song entitled "Boys like You," – her chart success was beginning to wane. The last single from this album, a duet with Ricky Skaggs written by Gail's brother, Ron Davies, was entitled "It's You Alone." It was released just as Davies was preparing to leave Warner Bros. Records. With no promotional support from the label it stalled at No. 55 on the Billboard chart.
She signed with RCA Records in 1984 and released Where Is a Woman to Go. Produced by Gail and James Taylor's bass player, Leland Sklar, this album featured two more hit singles – "Breakaway", which went to No. 15 on the charts and "Jagged Edge of a Broken Heart," climbing to No. 20. The last single from this album, a duet with Dolly Parton entitled "Unwed Fathers,"[2] was said to be too controversial for country radio. Written by John Prine and Bobby Braddock, this song barely made it into the Billboard Top 50.
Inspired by a trip to England in 1985, she formed a country/rock band called Wild Choir.[2] They released one self-titled album on RCA Records and three Billboard singles – "Heart To Heart, "Safe in the Arms of Love" and "Next Time," written by Davies, Pam Rose and Mary Ann Kennedy.
In 1989, Davies signed with MCA Records and produced an album of 10 self-penned compositions entitled Pretty Words. The album garnered two more Top 50 singles "Waiting Here For You" and "Hearts in the Wind". The song the record company chose not to release, written by Davies and Harry Stinson, was entitled "Tell Me Why." It went on to become a hit for Curb recording artist Jann Browne.
She moved to Capitol Records in 1989 and released two albums – The Other Side of Love and The Best Of Gail Davies. Hired by Capitol/EMI in 1990 to become Nashville's first female staff producer, Davies spent four years working with young artists such as Mandy Barnett before starting her own record label, Little Chickadee Productions. She produced and released an album in 1995 entitled Eclectic, which was chosen by The New York Times as one of the "Ten Best Country Albums of the Year." Other LCP releases include Gail Davies Greatest Hits, Love Ain't Easy, Live and Unplugged at the Station Inn, The Songwriter Sessions, Since I Don't Have You (featuring Benny Golson), and Beyond the Realm of Words produced by Davies and Chris Scruggs.
Later career and life today
Davies received an
Although semi-retired, Davies continues to tour, mostly in Europe. She was named "Country Music International Ambassador" during CMA week in 2009 and released her autobiography, The Last of the Outlaws, in 2011. Her latest project is an album dedicated to her late brother entitled Unsung Hero: A Tribute To The Music of Ron Davies. Released in 2013, this album features Dolly Parton, John Prine, Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Shelby Lynne, Rodney Crowell, Suzy Bogguss, John Anderson, Guy Clark, Bonnie Bramlett, and Jazz legend Benny Golson, among others. Proceeds from this album benefit The W.O. Smith Music School and provide musical instruments and lessons for underprivileged children.
Discography
References
External links
- Gail Davies official website
- Gail Davies Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2019)