Michael Burke Davis

Michael Burke Davis Mar. 12, 1952 - Oct. 16, 2010 Michael Burke Davis, aged 58, died at South Austin Hospital in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, October 16, 2010 from complications of liver cancer. Michael was born March 12, 1952, in Berkeley, California, to Robert Davis and Barbara Burke Davis (deceased, 1965). He grew up in California and Utah, but he was a Texan at heart, studying at Texas A&M University in College Station and living all over the state, from El Paso to Houston to Lubbock to Austin. He also served his country as a Ranger in the United States Army. Though he studied geology and worked as a surveyor, Michael's true passion was music. Starting out on drums in a garage band, he switched to guitar early on and never looked back. Taking lessons from Jesse Taylor and picking alongside music greats like Tom Woodruff, Joe Ely and Lyle Lovett, Michael honed his craft. He discovered the joy of writing original songs, starting with "The Ballad of Amos Guthry". It was through music that Michael met the love of his life, Alicia Gill. Playing in "The Side Effects" together, Michael took Alicia's advice to "go after the woman he loved" and persisted until he won her over. They married on June 25, 1994. Together they travelled the state, the country and the tropics, playing, singing and spreading aloha wherever they went. In 2006 Michael ended up in the hospital and for the most part bled to death. He fought back the voices telling him to go to sleep and won a second lease on life. Working hard to recover, he dedicated his remaining years to loving his family and his wife and taking care of Alicia's mother Emelie 'Ma' Gill. He also found his illness had opened a door to a deeper talent. Whereas before a good song came every now and then, Michael started to find inspiration every day in words, photographs, movies, and history. He, Alicia and friends produced "Journeys" in 2009, an album which is a true testament to his talent. Michael will always be with us through his music. Michael is survived by his wife Alicia, her mother 'Ma' Gill, his parents Robert and Judy Davis, his sisters and their families Amy, Todd, Troy and Ryan Hoddick and Jenny and Emmanuel Davis-Peccoud, his cats and innumerable relatives, friends, neighbours and acquaintances, all of whom have been touched by his unique spirit. A vigil and rosary will be held on Wednesday, October 20th at 5:30 p.m. and a memorial service on Thursday, October 21st at 2:00 p.m., both at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Austin. Instead of flowers, donations are suggested to one of Michael's favorite charities: Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (www.myhamm.org), Coral Reef Alliance (www.coral.org), Friends of Virgin Island National Park (www.friends.vinp.org) Aloha. Live long and prosper.