Billy Davenport

Billy Davenport ( born April 23, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois; † 24 December 1999) was an American blues drummer.

After Davenport had found at the age of ten years, a pair of old drumsticks in a street, he decided to become a drummer. He first played only on old cans, but in high school he got then right drum hours. Later, he played in various jazz bands. In 1949, he studied music for a year. Soon he played with jazz greats such as Bob Hadley, Leo Parker, Neal Anderson, Tampa Red, Slam Stewart and Sonny Stitt. His early influences include Gene Krupa, Art Blakey, Louie Bellson and Max Roach.

From 1951 to 1955 Davenport served in the U.S. Navy. As interest in jazz significantly subsided now, Davenport saddled now switches to the blues. In the late 50s and early 60s he played with Howlin 'Wolf, Muddy Waters, Freddy King, James Cotton, Otis Rush, Billy Boy Arnold, Dusty Brown, Ernie Fields, Junior Wells, Mighty Joe Young, Little Mack Simmons, and Syl Johnson.

1964 Davenport learned then Paul Butterfield know. After Sam Lay in 1965 to leave the Butterfield Blues Band, Davenport became his successor. After playing three years with the BBB, he left in 1968 for the time being of the music scene. But in 1972 he began to play again. Until 1974, he played with Willie Dixon, Jimmy Dawkins and Buster Benton. Then he sat down again to rest, until in 1981 he joined the Pete Baron Jazztet.

• Blues musicians
• Drummer
• American musician
• Born in 1931
• Died in 1999
• Man