Ron Davies (Ronny Wayne Davies, 15 January 1946–30 October 2003) was an American songwriter and musician. He was described by CMT News at the time of his death as "the family's artistic trailblazer" though "less celebrated… than his [younger] sister," country music singer-songwriter Gail Davies.[1]
Son of local country singer Tex Dickerson he took the name Davies after he was adopted by his stepfather, Darby Alan Davies. He began his professional songwriting career at the age of 17, when he penned an entire album for the Tacoma, Washington-based Wailers. He released two albums of his own on A&M Records, Silent Song Through the Land and U. F. O., the latter produced by Tommy Vicarri.[1]
His song "It Ain't Easy" was covered by Three Dog Night and David Bowie, among others; his "Long, Hard Climb" by Helen Reddy and Maria Muldaur; "The Man I Used to Be" by Jerry Jeff Walker; and "Waitin' on a Dark-Eyed Girl" for by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.[1]
Davies moved in the 1980s to Nashville, Tennessee; there he wrote for Cedarwood Publishing and later for Warner/Chappell, and played the lead role in the 1999 music video for the George Jones song, "Cold Hard Truth." He died in Nashville 30 October 2003, of a heart attack.[1]