She has been cited as a role model for other female singers, including Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Pam Tillis.
[2] She was later hired as a session singer at A&M Records,[2] working with such artists as Neil Young, Hoyt Axton and Glen Campbell.
She was able to sit in on a John Lennon session, produced by Phil Spector, and was befriended by songwriter, Joni Mitchell.
She was invited to tour Europe with Frank Zappa, but turned the offer down to work with country artist Roger Miller,[2] making her television debut as his singing partner on The Merv Griffin Show.
Encouraged by her older brother, Ron Davies, (he is best known for having written "It Ain't Easy" for David Bowie and "Long Hard Climb" for Helen Reddy),[2] Gail soon began writing songs.
[2] It was also recorded by Lynn Anderson and Mitzi Gaynor, and became a standard on The Grand Ole Opry for country singer Wilma Lee Cooper.
[2] This song has since been translated into seven languages and recorded by such internationally known artists as Nana Mouskouri, Susan McCann, Iona & Andy, George Hamilton IV and The Country Gentlemen.
[2] Although there were some sizable hits from this record, including two Top 20 singles – "You're a Hard Dog (To Keep Under the Porch)" and a self-penned song entitled "Boys like You," – her chart success was beginning to wane.
Produced by Gail and James Taylor's bass player, Leland Sklar, this album featured two more hit singles – "Breakaway", which went to No.
In 1989, Davies signed with MCA Records and produced an album of 10 self-penned compositions entitled Pretty Words.
Hired by Capitol/EMI in 1990 to become Nashville's first female staff producer, Davies spent four years working with young artists such as Mandy Barnett before starting her own record label, Little Chickadee Productions.
Other LCP releases include Gail Davies Greatest Hits, Love Ain't Easy, Live and Unplugged at the Station Inn, The Songwriter Sessions, Since I Don't Have You (featuring Benny Golson), and Beyond the Realm of Words produced by Davies and Chris Scruggs.
This album featured, along with Davies, George Jones, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Pam Tillis, Dwight Yoakam, Crystal Gayle, Charley Pride, The Del McCoury Band, Allison Moorer, Guy Clark, Dale Watson, The Jordanaires, Rosie Flores, Lionel Cartwright, Robbie Fulks, Mandy Barnett and Billy Walker.
Her latest project is an album dedicated to her late brother entitled Unsung Hero: A Tribute To The Music of Ron Davies.