Walter Davis, Jr. (1932–1990) was an American hard bop pianist. As a teenager he performed with Babs Gonzalez , then in the 1950s recorded with Max Roach and played with Roach, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, and the Jazz Messengers. After retiring from music in the 1960s he returned in the 1970s to perform with Sonny Rollins and again with the Jazz Messengers. He has recorded with many prominent jazz musicians, including, in addition to Byrd, Roach, Rollins, and the Jazz Messengers, Kenny Clarke, Sonny Criss, Jackie McLean, Pierre Michelot , and Archie Shepp.