David Allen "Davey" Faragher (born August 18, 1957) is an American bass guitarist from Redlands, California. Faragher's career took off and received critical notice as a founding member of the nineties band Cracker, and his subsequent work with John Hiatt's band, and The Imposters, the backing band for Elvis Costello since 2001. In 2015, Faragher joined Richard Thompson's Electric Trio for Thompson's Still album and US tour.
Faragher is an accomplished session musician, and has a strong portfolio of performances with notable musicians.
Biography
In the mid-to-late 1970s, Faragher recorded three albums with his brothers Danny Faragher, Jimmy, and Tommy Faragher as The Faragher Brothers. Later, the band was renamed The Faraghers for a fourth album, featuring fifth brother Marty and sister Pammy. From there he became one of Los Angeles' most sought after bass players, and was featured in Bass Player magazine in February, 2001.
He also plays club gigs where he currently resides in Los Angeles near fellow Imposter Pete Thomas and guitarist Val McCallum under the band name Jackshit. The trio was featured in the Spring 2002 issue of Grindstone Magazine.
Cracker
Faragher was a founding member of the band Cracker in the early 1990s. Faragher shared a writing credit on the band's 1993 hit "Low," among others, and was given the cover feature story of BAM magazine in July 1992. During his time in Cracker, Faragher would perform in a dress. When the band performed on Late Night with David Letterman, the show's host made a joke about it.
John Hiatt collaboration
After his departure from Cracker late in 1993, Faragher became bass player in John Hiatt's band through the late 1990s. He was credited as associate producer for John Hiatt's 1995 Walk On album, and producer (with Hiatt) on his 1997 Little Head album.
Session work
Faragher has worked much of his career as a session musician, recording with such notables as The Monkees (on their 1986 reunion album Pool It!), David Crosby, John Phillips, Wanda Jackson, Dusty Springfield, Red House Painters, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Susanna Hoffs, Vonda Shepard, Joan Osborne, Ronnie Montrose, Mark Kozelek, Shivaree, Guster, The Finn Brothers, Camper Van Beethoven, Chantal Kreviazuk, Allen Toussaint, Dr. Zwig, Buddy Guy, Willy DeVille and The Ditty Bops. He is thanked in the liner-notes for Counting Crows' hit single "Hanginaround" on This Desert Life (produced by former Cracker bandmate David Lowery).
In February 2007, he was seen playing the part of the bass player in Scrantonicity, the band featured in The Office episode, "Phyllis' Wedding." In January 2008, it was reported in Billboard that a new supergroup tentatively called the Scrolls, (now officially Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.)) had formed. The octet is composed of Faragher, Sean Watkins (guitar), his sister Sara Watkins (fiddle), Glen Phillips (guitar, vocals), Benmont Tench (piano), Luke Bulla (fiddle), Greg Leisz (various), and Pete Thomas (drums). The group released their debut album in late 2009. In 2010, Faragher played as a session bassist for The Union, a Grammy Award-nominated collaboration by Elton John and Leon Russell.
Collaborations
With Jann Arden
Blood Red Cherry (Universal Music, 2000)
With Tracy Bonham
Blink the Brightest (Zoe Records, 2005)
With Jonatha Brooke
Steady Pull (Bad Dog Records, 2001)
With Jackson Browne
Downhill from Everywhere (Inside Records, 2021)
With Cock Robin
First Love / Last Rites (CBS Records, 1989)
With Sharon Corr
The Same Sun (BobbyJean, 2013)
With Elvis Costello
When I Was Cruel (Mercury Records, 2002) North (Deutsche Grammophon, 2003) The Delivery Man (Lost Highway Records, 2004) The River in Reverse (Verve Forecast, 2006) Momofuku (Lost Highway Records, 2008) National Ransom (Universal Records, 2010) Look Now (Concord Records, 2018) The Boy Named If (Capitol Records, 2022)
With Peter Criss
Let Me Rock You (Casablanca Records, 1982)
With A. J. Croce
Adrian James Croce (Seedling Records, 2004) Cage of Muses (Seedling Records, 2009)
With Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow (A&M Records, 1996) C'mon, C'mon (A&M Records, 2002)
With E. G. Daily
Lace Around the Wound (A&M Records, 1989)
With Ilse DeLange
Next to Me (Universal Music, 2010)
With Willy DeVille
Loup Garou (EastWest Records, 1995) Pistola (Eagle Records, 2008)
With Mikky Ekko
Time (RCA Records, 2015)
With Jeffrey Gaines
Alright (Omnivore Recordings, 2018)
With Michael Grimm
Michael Grimm (Epic Records, 2011)