Blues fans from across Arkansas are invited to celebrate the life and legacy of legendary bassist, songwriter, and 4-time W.C. Handy Award winner Larry “Totsy” Davis as the Arkansas River Delta Blues Trail dedicates its 2nd historical marker on Saturday, July 11.
The free public celebration will take place from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at William F. Bill Foster Memorial Park in England.
The event will feature live entertainment, food trucks, and the official unveiling of a historical marker honoring Davis’ lasting contributions to American blues music.
Raised in England, Davis began performing professionally at just 14 years old. During his remarkable career, he toured with blues icon Albert King, recorded for Duke Records, Pulsar, Black and Blue, Bullseye Blues, and Rooster Blues, and earned 4 W.C. Handy Awards in a single year—one of the highest honors in blues music.
Among his best-known recordings is the 1958 classic “Texas Flood,” which Davis co-wrote with arranger Joseph Scott. The song later gained worldwide recognition when Stevie Ray Vaughan built his double-platinum debut album around the blues classic.
Despite suffering a motorcycle accident in 1972 that left him partially paralyzed, Davis returned to recording and continued performing, eventually touring internationally throughout Europe and Japan.
The dedication ceremony will feature performances by Texas Rikki D, who will perform songs made famous by Davis, along with Jason Lee Hale and artists from the Arkansas River Blues Crew.
The Arkansas River Delta Blues Trail honors the musicians, communities, and landmarks that helped shape the blues throughout the Arkansas Delta. The trail unveiled its first historical marker in Sherrill in June honoring blues legend Bobby Rush.
Organizers say the England marker celebrates not only Davis’ extraordinary musical career but also the rich blues heritage of Arkansas for future generations.
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