Ward Davis

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Ward Davis

| image = Ward Davis in 2024.jpg

| caption = Ward Davis in Denver, 2024

| origin = Monticello, Arkansas

| genre = Country, Singer-Songwriter

| years_active = 1998–present

| website = https://warddavismusic.com/

}}

Ward Davis is an American singer-songwriter from Monticello, Arkansas. Davis has had songs recorded by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Trace Adkins, Wade Hayes, Sammy Kershaw, Bucky Covington, Jimmie Van Zant, Buddy Jewel, Carolina Rain, The Roys, Cody Jinks, Whitey Morgan, Paul Cauthen and others. in 2016, Davis co-wrote "I’m Not The Devil" with Cody Jinks, which went to No. 4 on the Billboard US Country Charts.{{Cite magazine |last=Asker |first=Jim |date=August 23, 2016 |title=Dan + Shay 'Up' to No. 1 On Country Airplay; Justin Moore Bows Atop Top Country Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/dan-shay-country-airplay-justin-moore-albums/ |magazine=Billboard}} His major debut 2015 album, 15 Years in a 10 Year Town, featured Willie Nelson and Jamey Johnson.{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2015 |title=Album Review: Ward Davis '15 Years in a 10 Year Town' |url=https://thedailycountry.com/6/post/2015/10/album-review-ward-davis-15-years-in-a-10-year-town.html |website=The Daily Country}} "Unfair Weather Friend," a song Davis co-wrote with Marla Cannon-Goodman, was recorded by Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard for their final album collaboration together, Django and Jimmie. At Haggard's request, the song was played at Haggard's funeral in 2016.{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Gayle |date=November 25, 2016 |title=Story Behind the Song: Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, 'Unfair Weather Friend' |url=https://theboot.com/willie-nelson-merle-haggard-unfair-weather-friend-lyrics/ |website=The Boot}}

Music career

Davis moved to Nashville in 2000 from Monticello, Arkansas, to write and perform music, but was unsatisfied with his achievements.{{Cite web |last=Chandler |first=Chip |date=July 13, 2016 |title=Singer-songwriter Ward Davis on being 'pretty miserable' in Nashville, working (and smoking) with Willie Nelson and playing Buckin' Wild |url=https://www.panhandlepbs.org/blogs/play-here/singer-songwriter-ward-davis-on-being-pretty-miserable-in-nashville-working-and-smoking-with-willie-nelson-and-playing-buckin-wild/ |website=Panhandle PBS}} During his time there, he joined Ray Scott's band. After the success of "Unfair Weather Friend," and disillusioned with how he felt Nashville had changed,{{Cite web |title=WARD DAVIS |url=https://livesessions.npr.org/artists/ward-davis |website=NPR Music NPR Music Live Sessions}} he decided to leave Music Row and go out on his own, writing and performing himself.{{Cite web |last=Gregurich |first=Avery |date=September 12, 2019 |title=Going after 'the crowd that loves to hate' country radio: Ward Davis plays Wildwood |url=https://littlevillagemag.com/going-after-the-crowd-that-loves-to-hate-country-radio-ward-davis-plays-wildwood/ |website=Little Village}} He befriended Cody Jinks, with whom he co-wrote "I’m Not the Devil", the title track of Jink's 2016 album. Since then he has written and toured regularly with Jinks, including playing Red Rocks Amphitheater with Clint Black, and appearing on Conan.

Discography

class="wikitable"

|+Albums

!Title

!Album Details

!Year Released

Nobody's Waiting

|Self Release

|1998

15 Years in a 10 Year Town

|Hawkville

|2015

Black Cats And Crows

|Ward Davis Music, LLC

|2020

Live From An Undisclosed Location in Hays, Kansas

|Soundly Music

|2022

class="wikitable"

|+Singles & EPs

!Title

!Details

!Year

Released

Don't Open That Door

|Single

|2010

Last Monday in May

|Single

|2015

West Point To Arlington

|Single

|2017

I'm Not The Devil

|Single

|2017

Asunder

|EP

|2018

Last Monday in May

|Single

|2018

References

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:American singer-songwriters

Category:Singers from Arkansas