LESTER DAVENPORT

            

Lester "Mad Dog" Davenport (January 16, 1932 – March 17, 2009), was an American Chicago blues harmonica player and singer.

Born in Tchula, Mississippi, Davenport moved to Chicago, Illinois, when he was 14. There he played with Arthur Spires, Snooky Pryor, and Homesick James and then worked with Bo Diddley, with whom he played harmonica on a 1955 Chess Records session.He led his own group in the 1960s while working during the day as a paint sprayer. In the 1980s he was the harmonica player for the Indiana group the Kinsey Report.

            

In July 1994, Wolf Records released the album Chicago Blues Session, Vol. 11, by Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis, recorded in 1988 and 1989. The collection included Davenport on harmonica and Kansas City Red playing the drums.

Davenport released his first album under his own name in 1992 and recorded a follow-up, I Smell a Rat, in 2002.

Davenport died in March 2009 in Chicago, from prostate cancer, at the age of 77.

          

Blues musician: harmonica and vocals.

Born Lessie D. Davenport 16 January 1932 in Tchula, Holmes County, Mississippi, Lester "Mad Dog" Davenport moved to Chicago in 1946 when he was 14. There he played with Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, Snooky Pryor, and Homesick James, then worked with Bo Diddley, with whom he played harmonica on a 1955 Chess Records session that produced "Pretty Thing" and "Bring It to Jerome". He led his own group in the 1960s while he worked during the day as a paint sprayer. In the 1980s he was the harmonica player for the Gary, Indiana-based group The Kinsey Report.

In July 1994, Wolf Records released the Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis album, Chicago Blues Session, Vol. 11, the tracks of which Davis had recorded in 1988 and 1989. The collection included Davenport on harmonica, and Kansas City Red playing the drums.

Davenport released his first album under his own name "When the Blues Hit You" for Earwing in 1992 and a follow-up "I Smell a Rat" in 2002 for Delmark Records. 

In addition to harmonica, Lester also played bass, drums, and guitar. During the 1970s, he worked with W.W. Williams, Kansas City Red, Illinois Slim, Steve Cushing, Tchula childhood friend Jimmy Dawkins, and many others. His extensive sideman credits included Bo Diddley for Chess records, Big Smokey Smothers for Red Lightnin’, Willie Johnson, Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis, Johnny B. Moore for Wolf Records, Big John Trice for Red Lightnin’, Aron Burton on Earwig, and Bonnie Lee and Willie Kent for Delmark.

During his younger days Davenport liked to prowl the stage while playing a few notes on every instrument on the bandstand. That along with his tenacious playing earned him the handle "Mad Dog."

Lester Davenport died in 17 March 2009 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago from prostate cancer at the age of 77. His funeral services were held Saturday, 28 March 2009, 10am to 12pm, at A.R. Leak Funeral Home, 5000 W. Madison, Chicago, IL 60644.

One reviewer wrote: "Aside from all of his great credentials, Lester was a wonderful man who was eager to welcome new friends and share his harmonica secrets to aspiring players. He had a warm smile and the ability to add humor to any situation. His harmonica playing will be remembered for its glorious, sweet tone and perfect phrasing."