Career
Davis started learning music on the violin. She moved to the Pacific Northwest at middle school age and began to study the double bass. Kate played the violin and bass in the local orchestra, the Portland Youth Philharmonic.
She was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts in 2009 through the YoungArts national arts scholarship program while at West Linn High School in West Linn, Oregon.
Davis enrolled at the Manhattan School of Music in 2009, concentrating on jazz and classic American songs. Shortly after, she began writing her own music to perform.
By 2012, she was recognized by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers with the Robert Alan Award for new songwriters. She has said that learning the double bass was a difficult process, but after learning the foundation of the American Songbook, she was able to translate that knowledge to create her own contemporary musical style.
At school she began collaborating with musicians like guitarist Gabe Schnider and drummer Conor Szymanski.
The three have played and recorded together, their songs heard on Michael Feinstein"s National Public Radio show Song Travels. In 2012, Davis gave a talk and performed music at a TEDx conference in Portland, Oregon. Davis was recognized by Music Television as one of the 15 Fresh Females to rule popular in 2014.
Kate opened for Josh Groban in 2014 at the Mann Music Center in Philadelphia.
In early September 2014, Davis sang "All About That Bass" while playing double bass for Scott Bradlee"s Postmodern Jukebox video channel. Bradlee played piano and Dave Tedeschi played drums on their 1940s jazz-style interpretation, called "All About That (Upright) Bass".
After three months on YouTube their version had received 8 million hits. In December 2014, Davis appeared on Public Broadcasting Service NewsHour to perform and to talk about her career.
Kate appeared on the Public Broadcasting Service special, American Voices with Renée Fleming which aired in January 2015.
June 5, 2015, Kate appeared on National Public Radio"s Song Travels with Michael Feinstein. An hour long interview mixed with performances including "Movie" Kate"s version of "Tea for Two" and "Every Good Girl is a Unicorn".
