Clinton Davis is an old time folk musician based in Southern California. A fifth-generation Kentuckian, Davis grew up in rural Carroll County. His repertoire spans fiddle and banjo music native to his family home, the exuberant ragtime piano and guitar of early 20th-century New Orleans, and ballad songs and dance music of the Southwest.

 

Davis’ concerts are expansive in their mood, style, and instrumentation, with his only concern being to communicate the multi-faceted beauty of American music traditions wherever and however he finds it. A delicate expression on the banjo might lead to a powerful ragtime stomp on the piano. A ballad sung simply and directly can be followed by technical wizardry on the guitar.

His interpretation of American traditional music has earned high praise from the California Bluegrass Association, who called his work “innovative…dazzling…both sonically familiar and completely fresh.” Renowned authority of American roots guitar Stefan Grossman, has called him “a master…carrying on the traditional music torch of Mike Seeger.” Deering Banjos has called his playing “simply sublime.”  

In 2021, Davis released his first full-length solo album, ‘If I Live and I Don’t Get Killed,’ on Tiki Parlour Recordings. In 2025 he released his followup, “Ever Returning.”