Acclaimed artists recorded tracks for an upcoming tribute album to late songwriter Ron Davies. Contributing to the project are Alison Krauss, John Anderson, Dolly Parton, Jim Lauderdale, John Prine, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Delbert McClinton, Shelby Lynne, Jimmy Hall, Bonnie Bramlett, Jonell Mosser, and jazz legend Benny Golson.
All proceeds from the album will be donated to The W.O. Smith Music School. Unsung Hero: A Tribute To The Music of Ron Davies, produced by his sister Gail Davies, is set to be released on March 25. Crystal Gayle will be among those performing at the album release concert at Nashville’s 3rd & Lindsley on March 29.
One of Davies’ best known compositions is the 1970 hit song “It Ain’t Easy,” recorded by David Bowie, Three Dog Night, Long John Baldry and more recently, The Raconteurs. Davies passed away in 2003 at age 57. He penned “Long Hard Climb” for Helen Reddy and Maria Muldaur, “Dark Eyed Gal” for The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, “Good Old Song” for Dobie Gray, and “Steal Across The Border” for Joan Baez. Davies’ songs have also been recorded by Anne Murray, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs and Joe Cocker.
Unsung Hero’s stand-out tracks include Crystal Gayle’s rendition of “True Lovers and Friends” with Benny Golson providing the saxophone solo, and “Good Love After Bad” recorded by Alison Krauss accompanied by Ron Davies’ nephew Chris Scruggs on slide guitar. Other top musicians included on the album are Pat Bergeson, Andy Reiss, Richard Bennett, Chris Nole, Bob Mummert and Rob Price. The production for Unsung Hero began in October 2004.
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