Presley Davis Jr. is a multi genre recording artist and songwriter based in Melbourne, Australia. Originally from the USA, Presley was raised on early jazz and bluegrass. From his early teens until his 30s Presley toured with many different groups and became a very eclectic writer and performer. He now calls Australia home after living here for the last 20 years with his Australian wife.
Here are Presley Davis Jr.’s top five artists to include in your playlists!
- Ray Charles – Ray is perfection in every sense. He has such mastery of his voice, and what a voice it is. There would be no Prince, no James Brown, no Michael Jackson, no Stevie Wonder without Ray. I love “Mess Around” and I defy anyone to not feel the groove when that comes on. My absolute favourite would be his version of Stevie Wonder’s Living for the City which is a hoot.
- Willie Nelson – Willie is one of the great songwriters of all time. His phrasing is out of this world, you think he’s going to miss his entrance but that’s just Willie creating tension only to softly make his entrance at the last second. He is heavily influenced by jazz and I think that complexity gives his music a timelessness. He is a legend.
- Mavis Staples is without a doubt my favourite singer. She has so much character in her voice whether it’s in the beginning with the “Staples Singers” or more recently with Jeff Tweedy producing her solo records she can do no wrong. The way she hits the note, and the way she leaves a note is a lesson for all vocalists. You can feel her passion for music in every note.
- Leon Redbone is a truly interesting character, emphasis on character. With his suit, hat and highly stylised persona he carves out his own space in American music. A consummate music historian, performer, and comedian, Leon was a solo act that no artist would like to follow. Watching him makes you want to learn what he is doing, he is inspiring in every performance.
- Anders Osborne has influenced me in more recent years. As a fan of older music I am pretty finicky when it comes to modern artists. Anders has it all, a great voice, great song writing, and a great player to boot. My favorite record of his, “Coming Down”, is written with a vulnerability that I find endearing. He’s experimental across his records and there’s a fantastic fearlessness in his writing.
