Governor Davis grew up steeped in the blues. His father played piano in clubs on Chicago’s North Side and his aunt was a church organist who taught him how to tinkle the ivories. As a young man living in the windy city, he haunted the local blues clubs and eventually got a job running errands for seminal venue Walter’s Corner, where he had the privilege of seeing Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Junior Wells and Little Milton perform.

Later, he went on to study music and guitar at Vincennes University and Ball State, and for years worked as a job search counselor performing, like his father did, on weekends.

Now retired from his counselor post, he helms the blues outfit Governor Davis and the Blues Ambassadors who perform at Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory as part of the venue’s Botanical Roots Concert series.

Local favorites Swick and Jones will open the show.