in memory of

Jeffrey Scott Davis

FUNKYWORM

Known as Scott by his family and close friends and by many on the internet as Funkyworm, this was one of the internet's first and most dedicated broadcasters.
In January of 1999, at a site called The Castle, along with a handful of "new recruits" he helped to change the format of internet radio hosting. Rather than trying to emulate the style of popular radio personalities, it was clear that he thought the internet should be providing the listeners to a new market, Independently produced music.
In June I traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee and met  him in person and we discussed how we could reach both artists and potential broadcasters to establish a network for this purpose. Along with David Swanson and his friend Lisle we tried to use the existing music broadcasting sites as a means to get the music that we had collected  played. Streamers United Network - SUN - was the first step and we stumbled. Site owners treated us like Union Organizers in the 20s and I am still branded as a trouble maker and banned at some of them.

We knew that a new site was our best chance to establish the project  but at the time we simply continued on until the opportunity came along at Filetopia to create a room where indie artists could get the tracks to us for airplay. By then David was the GM for a hosting company - ClubPlug - and he provided us with access to thier real server and we started the internets first 24/7 Independent Music Radio - FiletopiaLive.
As is usually the case, life is what happens when you are making other plans. Scott got married, had 3 children , changed jobs and  moved to Louisville Kentucky .His participation in the project waned but he would keep in touch with me and stay abreast of the growth and changes.  FiletopiaLive no longer exists. AIIR took over that project and then with full hosting, IndieRadioLive was formed with all the right stuff in early 2003. As many times as I tried to convince Scott to return to his Funkyworm personna and take some air time with me at IRL his family was all consuming and he seemed happy  about that fact.

At 5:00am on Friday Aug 10, 2006, the phone rang.
His wife told me, with a choke in her voice, that Scott was no longer with us. I do not think I have ever been so angered and hurt at the same time by anyone that I loved as much as Scott. I do know however that eventually the love and respect that I had for this man will overcome the anger and the pain and I will talk fondly of those days and remember him as one of the pioneers of Independent music broadcasting and as a very good friend.

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