Hardin Davis

1945 - 2017

May 27, 1945 ~ May 19, 2017
In 1967, the US Army sent Hardin Davis to Ft. Douglas in Salt Lake City instead of Saigon. It was in Salt Lake that he lived, worked, married, raised two boys, played music, raced bicycles.
Hardin was born on Long Island, NY, May 27, 1945. He briefly attended Colgate Univ. and San Diego Law School but eventually, in his own time, graduated with a BA in History, University of Utah. He was a perpetual student.
His immeasurable contribution to the Salt Lake music scene began in the 70s. In his unassuming way, he championed, encouraged and participated in the art of music as much as any one person could. As a performer, he delighted audiences with skillful instrument mastery and songs ranging from thoughtful to humorous. He was active as a solo performer, played in The Jordan River Uptown Band, Great Basin Rangers ('76), Loggerheads ('88), and others. More recently you'd find him in music gatherings with friends, often with a banjo in hand. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Folk Alliance International and an early board member of Intermountain Acoustic Music Association.
As owner of Acoustic Music for 28 years, he was at the center of the music scene, rubbing shoulders with both local and professional touring musicians. Acoustic Music continues his legacy under the ownership of his son, Brian Winter.
Hardin was an intellect and voracious reader. In 1982, with good friends and equally voracious readers, he founded "Bullwinkle's Corner," a book club that survives him.
He was a long-distance cyclist and bike racer, touring across the US twice and racing in the USA Nat'l Cycling Championship Masters. He commuted daily, racking up 115,000 miles over the years. He biked the route taken in 1846 by New England historian, Francis Parkman, over the then newly-opened Oregon Trail. This trip resulted in his self -published book, Serious Earth: Dreaming Through an American Landscape-a book of history, philosophy, poetry, and imagination. Left unfinished in his studio is a modern-guise novel based on the work of the Roman poet Virgil, a work that also involved writing songs based on ancient Myths.
For 30 years he played basketball on the Pub sponsored team. His last game, at age of 70 and already quite ill with cancer, he scored seven three-pointers. He also excelled at tennis and played rugby in his younger years.
Hardin is survived by wife Sandi; son Jeff Winter (Claudia), son Brian Winter (Katey Martin); grandsons, Parker, Oliver; granddaughter Emerson; sister, Amy Davis (Phil Saul), Charleston, SC; nephew Davis; niece Lillian; brother, Jeff Davis (Lisa Davidson), Woodstock, CT; cousin, Deke Conklin (Barbara Fraser), Nelson, NH.
Hardin was a lifelong vegetarian who demonstrated kindness to all creatures. He was quiet, kind, and frugal, characteristics in short supply these days. The days and weeks ahead are comforted by the knowledge that Hardin wasn't afraid and he believed he had a very full, productive life.
A memorial will be at the First Unitarian Church, 569 S 1300 E, SLC, July 28th, 5-9 p.m.