George S. Davis
Encyclopedia
George S. Davis known as The Singing Miner, was a folk singer
and songwriter
who worked as a coal miner, and then as a disc jockey
on local radio in Hazard, Kentucky
from 1947 until 1969.
in Eastern Kentucky
.
Among the songs he wrote and sang were "White Shotgun," "Buggerman in the Bushes," "Coal Miner's Boogie," "When Kentucky Had No Union Men," and "Harlan County Blues." Although "Sixteen Tons
", the song about the misery of coal mining, has generally been credited as being written in 1946 by country singer Merle Travis
, who was the first to record it, Davis claimed that Travis based it on an earlier song of his called "Nine-to-ten tons", written in the 1930s. Davis' 1966 recording of his version of the song can be heard on the album George Davis: When Kentucky Had No Union Men.
. His D28 Martin Guitar that he played from 1947 until 1992 will be displayed in the new studios of WKIC
and WSGS
on Main Street in Hazard.
Folk Singer
Folk Singer is a 1964 album by Muddy Waters. Waters plays acoustic guitar, backed by Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar...
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who worked as a coal miner, and then as a disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
on local radio in Hazard, Kentucky
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
from 1947 until 1969.
Career
Davis began his career about 1933, about the same time the United Mine Workers of America began organizing the coal minesCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in Eastern Kentucky
Eastern Mountain Coal Fields
The Eastern Mountain Coal Fields is part of the Central Appalachian bituminous coal field, covering all or parts of 30 Kentucky counties and adjoining areas in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. It covers an area from the Allegheny Mountains in the east across the Cumberland Plateau and...
.
Among the songs he wrote and sang were "White Shotgun," "Buggerman in the Bushes," "Coal Miner's Boogie," "When Kentucky Had No Union Men," and "Harlan County Blues." Although "Sixteen Tons
Sixteen Tons
"Sixteen Tons" is a song about the life of a coal miner, first recorded in 1946 by American country singer Merle Travis and released on his box set album Folk Songs of the Hills the following year...
", the song about the misery of coal mining, has generally been credited as being written in 1946 by country singer Merle Travis
Merle Travis
Merle Robert Travis was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and musician born in Rosewood, Kentucky. His lyrics often discussed the life and exploitation of coal miners. Among his many well-known songs are "Sixteen Tons", "Re-Enlistment Blues" and "Dark as a Dungeon"...
, who was the first to record it, Davis claimed that Travis based it on an earlier song of his called "Nine-to-ten tons", written in the 1930s. Davis' 1966 recording of his version of the song can be heard on the album George Davis: When Kentucky Had No Union Men.
Death and legacy
Davis was 88 years old when he died in 1992 in London, KentuckyLondon, Kentucky
-Education:All of the following schools are administered by the Laurel County School District.-Primary schools:* * * * * * * * * * * * -High schools:* * -Colleges:* Laurel Technical College* * -Notable natives:...
. His D28 Martin Guitar that he played from 1947 until 1992 will be displayed in the new studios of WKIC
WKIC
WZQQ is a radio station in Hazard, Kentucky. The station was known as WKIC for over sixty years. The WKIC call sign was moved to the FM dial at 97.9. The station is currently owned by Mountain Broadcasting Service, Inc...
and WSGS
WSGS
WSGS is a radio station based in Hazard, Kentucky. The station first began broadcasting in the 1950s as the first FM station in the East Kentucky Coal Fields During the 1960s WSGS held the distinction of being the most powerful FM in the state...
on Main Street in Hazard.