Biography
Charles Edward Davenport, 23 April 1894, Anniston, Alabama, USA, d. 3 December 1955, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. One of the most distinctive themes utilized in boogie-woogie is the train imitation ‘Cow Cow Blues’ from which this consummate performer derived his nickname. Davenport’s father, a preacher, wanted to see his son follow him to a career in the church but it was not to be. Instead the piano laid claim to Davenport at an early age and he took up the insecure life of the medicine show musician. He joined Barhoot’s Travelling Carnival working the backwaters of Alabama. Here his basically ragtime piano style was subjected to the influence of Bob Davis and the lusty, rolling result was to be the basis of Davenport’s success on record throughout the 20s. He moved into vaudeville with blues singer Dora Carr as Davenport And Co. Davenport made his first recordings for Gennett (unissued) and Paramount in 1927. Thereafter he linked up with...
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