Davenport, who also made recordings under the pseudonyms of Bat The Humming Bird, George Hamilton and The Georgia Grinder,[2] is a member of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.
His father objected strongly to his musical aspirations and sent him to a theological seminary, where he was expelled for playing ragtime.
His initial profile came as accompanist to blues musicians Dora Carr[1] and Ivy Smith.
It combined the then popular "Western song" craze (exemplified by Johnny Mercer's "I'm an Old Cowhand") with the big-band boogie-woogie fad.
He also said he had written the Louis Armstrong hit "I'll be Glad When You're Dead (You Rascal You)", but sold the rights and credit to others.