Talented singer, sign painter and artist Jerry Davenport grew up on Catawba Island, and has helped to give the area its unique identity. He’ll do it again in downtown Port Clinton on Friday, Aug. 11, leading off the weekend with a RiverFront Live! Show on The District Stage at 6 p.m.

The singer-songwriter and performer has a repertoire of more than 115-plus original songs that were inspired while growing up on a small farm located in the heart of Catawba near the shores of Lake Erie, an era when everyone in the region recognized the rumbling sound of the Tin Goose airplane as it flew almost hourly over his home on Catawba.

He has seen the development of boats transform from wood and steel to the fiberglass beauties that ply the Lake Erie waters. Davenport’s songs range from the many aspects of boating, bad fishing and staying too long in the popular taverns on Put-in-Bay.

Davenport accompanies his songs with guitar and harmonica, the latter embellishing his earthy tunes about life on Lake Erie. He plays when the spirit moves him, and is usually heard at popular summer venues such as the Bait House River Bar on the Portage River, along with a few other places that embrace original music.

That’s why Davenport has been invited and has agreed to perform for RiverFront Live! Which sparkles on Fridays with its support of live original music.

Davenport’s harmonica is also one of the stars in the updated — and very successful song and video — “Port Clinton’s Calling Me” that tells and sells the message of just what it is like to enjoy his own Lake Erie paradise.

He is the owner of Davenport Sign and Art and has been enhancing the exterior look of many, many businesses around Ottawa County for over 45 years. His spectacular three murals of Matthew Boats have been displayed in Friendship Park for a long while, but check it out before it is soon replaced by another local artist’s creation, and be sure to take advantage of an opportunity to view Davenport’s artwork, and to take a selfie in front of the popular attraction.