Jimmy Davis & Jay Clark, Michael Cooper

Jimmy Davis never does the same show twice at Otherlands. This Saturday, he's sharing the stage and swapping songs with Knoxville songwriter, Jay Clark. Up and coming artist Michael Cooper opens the show promptly at 8:00 pm.

JIMMY DAVIS. Named "Premier Male Vocalist" five times by the Memphis Chapter of the NARAS, Jimmy's songs have been recorded by Martina McBride, Restless Heart, and Johnny Rivers. Davis has appeared as a backing vocalist on numerous recordings by Johnny Lang, former Eagle Bernie Leadon, William Lee Golden, Mark Collie, Keith Sykes, Iris DeMent, Cory Branan, Susan Marshall, and Toy Caldwell.

Jimmy started his career in 1987 with the QMI/MCA debut release Kick the Wall by Jimmy Davis & Junction. The title song and first single “Kick the Wall” was a top 40 AOR hit as well as an MTV hit video. The group was known for its live appearances as a tight, loud, rock-n-roll band and toured all over America.

In 1996, Davis, with guitarist and Junction bandmate Tommy Burroughs, re-formed The Riverbluff Clan, a renowned Memphis rockin'-country-bluegrass outfit from the ‘70's. The band released two critically acclaimed independent CDs. The live album One Night in a Month of Sundays was heralded for its "hybrid vigor," while the studio CD Two Quarts Low was called a "genre-bending romp through bluegrass, country and country-tinged rock". It garnered a top 20 spot on the Gavin Americana chart. The Clan also appeared in the The Poor & Hungry, directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow), performing Davis' "Honeysuckle and Kudzu."

In 2004, Jimmy made his solo debut with a CD of self-penned songs entitled Jimmy Daddy's Acoustic Song List. Songs like "Grandmother's Quilt," "Devil's Den," "I Gotta Roll" and "Waiting in the Wings" honor every style of music Davis has ever approached. The Commercial Appeal called it "an unassuming triumph and as honest a record as you're likely to hear."

March of 2006 brought Campfire Songs to the world. The record was produced by Jimmy and recorded at Sounds Unreel in Memphis by Dawn Hopkins. Campfire Songs paints a cohesive and evocative picture by bringing together songs written throughout Jimmy's career. "I always wanted to make this record but I just didn't have enough songs that fit the concept,” Jimmy says. “It has literally taken me 25 years to get the right mix.

http://www.myspace.com/jimmydaddy

JAY CLARK. Jay Clark grew up in Winchester, Tennessee and began playing guitar during his high school years. During the summers of 1993 and 1994, Jay performed at Dollywood. Later, he helped form a traditional bluegrass band, The Stringbeans. The Stringbeans were voted the Best Bluegrass Group in 1999 by the Readers Poll of Knoxville's alternative weekly, the Metropulse.

After completing a Masters degree in Wildlife Science at UT in 1999, Jay moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma to pursue a PhD in Wildlife Ecology at Oklahoma State University. While in Oklahoma, he continued songwriting and would occasionally return to Knoxville to perform with Robinella and the CC Stringband. Robinella and the CC Stringband eventually landed a major recording contract with Columbia (New York) and are currently signed with Dualtone Records in Nashville.

After completing his PhD at Oklahoma State in 2003, Jay moved back to Knoxville and began performing his original material at shows backed by the CC Stringband. In May 2004, he released his debut album, Pen to Paper.

Since the release of Pen to Paper, Jay has opened for artists such as Billy Joe Shaver, the John Cowan Band, Malcolm Holcomb, Sally Barris, Jeff Barbra and Sarah Pirkle, Blue Moon Rising, and Robinella. He also contributed to Robinellas Dualtone release, Solace for the Lonely (2006), by singing harmony on 2 songs and co-writing another.

Jay recently moved to Hazel Green, Alabama, and released his sophomore recording, titled Progress, in February 2006. As with Pen to Paper, Progress was produced by Cruz Contreras and Jay, recorded with the CC Stringband, and features harmonies by Robinella (including a duet). He has started performing beyond the Knoxville area, frequently opening shows for Robinella, as well as touring on his own as a solo act. Progress and Pen to Paper are available at www.jayclarkmusic.com.

http://www.myspace.com/thejayclarkmusic

MICHAEL COOPER The show begins promptly at 8:00 pm with an acoustic duo set from Michael Cooper. A native of Rogersville, Alabama, Michael attended school in Searcy, Arkansas and performed in Little Rock before moving to Collierville. He's new to Memphis, but a veteran stage performer, having opened for Cross Canadian Ragweed, Paul Thorn, Hayes Carll, Bobby Bare Jr., Corey Smith, and The Oak Ridge Boys.

We found him sitting in on a songwriter circle with Jed Zimmerman, and Blair Combest and we were really impressed. We think you will be too. He's a solid singer/songwriter and a picker. He's got the full on skillset for country music radio and stage.

http: www.myspace.com/michaelcooperband

$5 Cover. Doors at 7 pm. Show at 8 pm. All ages. Smoke free inside. Beer Coffee and Food. Large patio and deck. 641 S Cooper. 901-278-4994. www.myspace.com/otherlands.