Album Notes

Fritz Davis grew up in a musical family. His grandmother on his mother’s side was a ballerina who also played harmonica and steel guitar. His grandfather on his father’s side played piano in silent movie houses and was a rodeo clown. His father sang and played guitar and his uncle was a professional entertainer with radio experience and a stint in the West Coast music scene following World War II.
Fritz made his first recording at age three, a rousing version of Hank William’s “Hey, Good Lookin.” A born singer, he took up guitar at age fourteen and soon began playing in public for school functions and parties. His high school drama involvement led to the study of theatre in college, eventually leading to a degree in English and Drama.
After a four-year stint teaching in public schools, he began his serious involvement in musical entertainment, working with country, blues and rock and roll bands while pursuing a solo career in his first love, folk music.
He has performed on national and regional TV, had his own radio show and worked for five years with the Kansas Arts Commission, first as an Artist in Residence, then with the KAC’s Traveling Artist program.
In Spring of 1989, he moved to Red River, New Mexico, performing in nightclubs, ski resorts and music festivals, as well as fundraising benefits for local, state and national organizations.
He manages to find time to perform in local schools and, as an active member of the Red River Historical Society, entertains civic organizations with presentations focusing on Red River history.
His debut album, True Stories, a collection of self-penned story songs, was released in 1990, followed in 2005 by Carpe Manana, a collaboration with Texas pianist Jeff Fagan which saw two songs nominated for New Mexico Music Awards in 2006. His current solo CD of original songs entitled It’s A Good Day is available, as is a re-release of True Stories.
In 1998, Fritz wrote, directed and performed in Doc Thurly Bilkem’s Medicine Show, a humorous historical look at a popular form of American entertainment during the 19th and 20th century.
Every year since 1999, Fritz has entertained Fat Tuesday revelers as Fritti Fonteneau with his own unique brand of Cajun, Zydeco and Blues music during Red River’s Mardi Gras in the Mountains celebration.