Clifford Davies
Encyclopedia
Clifford Davies was a British
drummer, songwriter and producer
.
After receiving tuition from pipe band
drummer Jock Cree, and playing local gigs in the Aldershot
area, in the early 70s he went on to join the Roy Young Band then the second incarnation of British jazz-rock band If
from 1972 to 1975. He played on four albums by the band and contributed many of their songs. Following If's break-up, Davies joined US hard rock
guitarist Ted Nugent
from 1975 to 1982 as drummer, producer and/or co-producer of all Nugent's recordings over those years, in collaboration with Lew Futterman, who had also produced If.
In the 1980s, he worked for Next City Productions, also owned by Futterman, in New York City
recording with Grand Funk Railroad
among others. Since the late 1990s he lived in Atlanta teaching piano
and drums
. He was also instrumental in founding the Rock and Roll Remembers Foundation.
Clifford Davies was found dead in his home in Atlanta on 13 April 2008. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reed Beaver, the owner of Equametric Studio where Davies was employed as chief engineer, reported that Davies called him the night before his body was found and was "extremely distraught" over medical bills.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
drummer, songwriter and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
After receiving tuition from pipe band
Pipe band
A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term used by military pipe bands, pipes and drums, is also common....
drummer Jock Cree, and playing local gigs in the Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
area, in the early 70s he went on to join the Roy Young Band then the second incarnation of British jazz-rock band If
If (band)
If was a progressive rock band formed in Britain in 1969.Referred to by Billboard as "unquestionably the best of the so-called jazz-rock bands", in the period spanning 1970-1975, they produced 8 studio-recorded albums and did some 17 tours of Europe, the US and Canada.-History:They toured...
from 1972 to 1975. He played on four albums by the band and contributed many of their songs. Following If's break-up, Davies joined US hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
guitarist Ted Nugent
Ted Nugent
Theodore Anthony "Ted" Nugent is an American guitarist, musician, singer, author, reserve police officer, and activist. From Detroit, Michigan, he originally gained fame as the lead guitarist of The Amboy Dukes, before embarking on a lengthy solo career...
from 1975 to 1982 as drummer, producer and/or co-producer of all Nugent's recordings over those years, in collaboration with Lew Futterman, who had also produced If.
In the 1980s, he worked for Next City Productions, also owned by Futterman, in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
recording with Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad
Grand Funk Railroad is an American rock band that was highly popular during the 1970s. Grand Funk Railroad toured constantly to packed arenas worldwide. A popular take on the band during its heyday was that, although the critics hated them, audiences loved them...
among others. Since the late 1990s he lived in Atlanta teaching piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
. He was also instrumental in founding the Rock and Roll Remembers Foundation.
Clifford Davies was found dead in his home in Atlanta on 13 April 2008. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reed Beaver, the owner of Equametric Studio where Davies was employed as chief engineer, reported that Davies called him the night before his body was found and was "extremely distraught" over medical bills.
With If
- WaterfallWaterfall (album)Waterfall is the fifth album released by the English jazz rock band If. It was first issued in 1972 and reached #195 on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart...
(1972) - Double DiamondDouble Diamond (album)Double Diamond is the sixth album by British jazz-rock group If. With only Dick Morrissey left from the original band, the new line-up featured Fi Trench and Pete Arnesen , Steve Rosenthal , Kurt Palomaki and Cliff Davies...
(1973) - also released in Germany as This is If - Not Just Another Bunch of Pretty FacesNot Just Another Bunch of Pretty FacesNot Just Another Bunch of Pretty Faces is the seventh studio album by British jazz-rock band If, released in 1974.- Side one :# "In the Winter of Your Life" – 4:59# "Stormy Every Weekday Blues" – 6:07...
(1974) - Tea Break Over, Back on Your 'EadsTea Break Over, Back on Your 'EadsTea Break Over, Back on Your 'Eads, released in 1975, was the eighth and final studio album by British jazz-rock band If. It was followed by compilation CDs covering tracks from the first four LPs featuring the band's previous line-up....
(1975)
With Ted Nugent
- Ted NugentTed Nugent (album)Ted Nugent, the first solo effort of the "Motor City Madman," is a rock album released in 1975 after Nugent disbanded from his former group, The Amboy Dukes....
- Free-for-All
- Cat Scratch FeverCat Scratch FeverCat Scratch Fever is an album by Ted Nugent released in 1977, as well as the name of the album's title song. "Death By Misadventure" recounts the death of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. Guitarist Derek St. Holmes came back during this album after he left...
- Double Live Gonzo
- Weekend WarriorsWeekend Warriors (album)Weekend Warriors is an album by Ted Nugent, released in 1978. It was the first Ted Nugent album not to feature Derek St. Holmes until Nugent in 1982...
- State of Shock
- Scream DreamScream DreamScream Dream is a 1980 rock album by Ted Nugent, released by Epic Records. A live performance of "Scream Dream" has appeared on the show Fridays....
- Intensities in 10 CitiesIntensities in 10 CitiesIntensities in 10 Cities is a 1981 live album by Ted Nugent, consisting of ten songs recorded during the last ten dates of Nugent's 1980 tour. All of the songs were new and had never appeared on any previous Ted Nugent album...