Bernie Davis

Bernie Davis was a well-loved and respected member of the maritime music community.  He passed away in February of 2021 after suffering a stroke in 2019.

From his website’s biography:  “And throughout it all there was Bernard’s music – English folk, Ceilidh tunes, Bluegrass and Old Time American, sea shanties and Cajun – played on the violin, guitar, banjo, mouthorgan, melodeon, dulcimer, saw, double bass, mandolin…  He performed in Merseyside folk clubs and pub sessions – at The Mitre, The Dolphin, The Post Office, The Pig and Whistle, The Cross Keys, The Everyman Bistro and, most recently, at The Caledonia with Cajun band Bayou Noir. Not forgetting the festivals he performed at all over the world, including Rosses Point in Sligo, where he returned again and again and made many friends.”

Davis performed with many other musicians, some of which were The Backporch Boys with Joe Rooney; The Liverpool Fisherman, which also included Stan Francis and the Jacques Brothers; Liverpool Forebitter with Andy Kenna; Oglet with John Howson; and The Liverpool Packet with Brian Ferguson and Keith Price.

Bernie Davis joined Andy Kenna (as “Liverpool Forebitter”) on the album, Salt Water Ballads – John Masefield.  From promotional notes found on Bandcamp, “”Salt Water Ballads” The collected sea poems of John Masefield, published in 1902 under the same title.  Andy Kenna has set a number of the poems to music and by interspersing them with readings from the reminiscences of seafarers of the sailing ship era, Forebitter invite listeners to judge for themselves the artistic quality and authentic flavor of Masefield’s work.”  Released November 29, 2021.