Biography
Gary Davenport, a songwriter and musician rooted in San Antonio, Texas, sustained an active career from the late 1960s forward yet operated almost entirely within obscure underground networks. Via his own Closet Records imprint he issued both solo material and joint recordings with enigmatic groups such as Mannequin in tiny editions during the late 1970s and early 1980s, many of which never reached listeners. In 2019 the Numero Group assembled Scattered Thoughts, a retrospective that collected highlights from his varied catalog.
Born in San Antonio in 1955, Davenport formed his first band at age 13. During his teenage years he played in several groups while absorbing the Beatles, progressive outfits like King Crimson, and rare folk and rock LPs unearthed at local stores. In the mid-1970s he assembled the experimental rock band Mannequin with fellow local musicians. The group performed throughout the region and released two singles on Closet Records in pressings of just 100 copies each. After attending the Sex Pistols’ notorious concert at Randy’s Rodeo in San Antonio, Mannequin shifted from introspective rock toward punk and new age sounds.
While operating Closet Records and working with Mannequin, Davenport also developed quieter solo pieces and collaborations with band member Mark Champion. Mannequin tracked a full album in 1981, but lack of funds kept it unreleased until 2013, when it finally appeared as Wait No Longer.
Throughout the 1980s Davenport explored folk and new age styles, including the release of the evocative 7-inch “Sarra,” titled after his then-girlfriend. Once the records were pressed, he worried the song would upset his ex-partner and therefore stored most copies for the next thirty years. Mannequin disbanded by 1983, prompting Davenport to focus on synth-folk solo work and a new project, Red Square. Music largely paused during the 1990s while he worked at a record store and reflected, awaiting renewed inspiration. Fresh ideas emerged in the early 2000s, yet financial limitations delayed proper recording until the material surfaced in 2010 as Wonder Slips Away.
By that point his scarce 1970s and 1980s releases had become collector items. Renewed interest followed the inclusion of “Sarra” on the 2016 compilation Sky Girl, a survey of private-press rarities. In 2019 the Numero Group issued the thirteen-track collection Scattered Thoughts, featuring Mannequin cuts alongside Davenport’s earlier solo and collaborative recordings.
Born in San Antonio in 1955, Davenport formed his first band at age 13. During his teenage years he played in several groups while absorbing the Beatles, progressive outfits like King Crimson, and rare folk and rock LPs unearthed at local stores. In the mid-1970s he assembled the experimental rock band Mannequin with fellow local musicians. The group performed throughout the region and released two singles on Closet Records in pressings of just 100 copies each. After attending the Sex Pistols’ notorious concert at Randy’s Rodeo in San Antonio, Mannequin shifted from introspective rock toward punk and new age sounds.
While operating Closet Records and working with Mannequin, Davenport also developed quieter solo pieces and collaborations with band member Mark Champion. Mannequin tracked a full album in 1981, but lack of funds kept it unreleased until 2013, when it finally appeared as Wait No Longer.
Throughout the 1980s Davenport explored folk and new age styles, including the release of the evocative 7-inch “Sarra,” titled after his then-girlfriend. Once the records were pressed, he worried the song would upset his ex-partner and therefore stored most copies for the next thirty years. Mannequin disbanded by 1983, prompting Davenport to focus on synth-folk solo work and a new project, Red Square. Music largely paused during the 1990s while he worked at a record store and reflected, awaiting renewed inspiration. Fresh ideas emerged in the early 2000s, yet financial limitations delayed proper recording until the material surfaced in 2010 as Wonder Slips Away.
By that point his scarce 1970s and 1980s releases had become collector items. Renewed interest followed the inclusion of “Sarra” on the 2016 compilation Sky Girl, a survey of private-press rarities. In 2019 the Numero Group issued the thirteen-track collection Scattered Thoughts, featuring Mannequin cuts alongside Davenport’s earlier solo and collaborative recordings.
Albums
Singles
