Donald Davis(October 25, 1938 – June 5, 2014) was an American record producer, songwriter and guitarist who combined a career in music with one in banking.[1]
Don Davis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Donald Davis |
| Born | October 25, 1938 Detroit,Michigan,US |
| Died | June 5, 2014(aged 75) West Bloomfield Township, Michigan,US |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer,songwriter,guitarist,bankingexecutive |
| Years active | Mid-1950s–1980s |
Biography
editBorn inDetroit,he started playing music in the mid-1950s and after leavingCentral High Schoolformed his ownjazzgroup, the Don Davis Trio, before becoming asession musician.[2]He played guitar for many Detroit record labels, includingGolden WorldandRic-Tic,as well as on earlyMotownrecords such as the hits, "Money (That's What I Want)"byBarrett StrongandMary Wells' "Bye Bye Baby".[3]
He moved on to writing and producing records in Detroit and then joinedStax Recordsin Memphis, aiming to achieve a fusion of the Stax and Motown sounds.[2]He achieved his first major success as a songwriter and producer in 1968 withJohnnie Taylor’s hit "Who's Making Love",which reached no.1 on theBillboard Hot R&B Singles chartand no.5 on theBillboardHot 100.[4][5]Davis also played guitar on the track, together withSteve Cropper.[2]He worked with Taylor on many of his hits in the 1970s, including the 1971R&B no.1 hit"Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone",which Davis co-wrote.[2]Later, in 1976, he also co-wrote and produced Taylor's "Disco Lady",which spent four weeks at no.1 on theBillboardHot 100and six weeks on theBillboardR&B chart in the US. It was the first single to be certified platinum by theRIAA.[6]
Davis set up his own record production and music publishing companies, calledGroovesville,[7][8]which are still operating. In 1971, he bought one of Detroit's premier recording studios,United Sound,[9][10]used by a host of musicians includingGeorge Clinton,Aretha Franklin,The Dramatics,The Dells,Carla Thomas,Michael Henderson,David Ruffinand Johnnie Taylor.[3][11]He also used theMuscle Shoals Sound StudioinAlabamato record the basic rhythm tracks on some of his productions.[12]
In 1975, Davis started and headed theRCA-distributed Detroit-based record label, Tortoise International[13]which included artists, First Fire,The Rockets,the 1978 comeback album byThe Skyliners,as well as the 1978Dan Schaferversion of the 1960s re-make "Baby Now That I've Found You"which was re-released in 2012 on the CDPerhaps..the Very Best of Dan Schafer.[14]In 1977, Davis produced theBilly Davis, Jr.andMarilyn McCoohit, "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)".[15]
Davis also established himself as a banker, founding the First Independence Bank, the onlyAfrican American-owned and operated commercial bank inMichiganin 1970.[3]He concentrated on his banking concern in later years, but continued to operate his music interests as well.
He lived inWest Bloomfield Township,north of Detroit, and died after a short illness in June 2014, aged 75. He is survived by a wife and three children.[3]
References
edit- ^Edmonds, Ben."Detroit banker Don Davis worked with Motown but made a name for himself with rival Stax".Detroit Free Press.RetrievedJanuary 3,2012.
- ^abcdBiography by Ed Hogan,Allmusic.Retrieved 7 June 2014
- ^abcd"Detroit music legend and banking entrepreneur Don Davis dies at age 75".The Detroit News. June 6, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon July 7, 2014.
- ^Whitburn, Joel(2004).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004.Record Research. p. 568.
- ^Finch, Graham."Steve Mancha"./soulfuldetroit.RetrievedDecember 8,2011.
- ^"History Of The Awards".RIAA.Archived fromthe originalon 2007-07-01.Retrieved2008-12-11.
- ^SoulfulDetroit -Groovesville Productions- Great Soul Music Recording Studios of Detroit
- ^Discogs -Groovesville Music- profile and discography
- ^SoulfulDetroit -United Sound Systems- Great Soul Music Recording Studios of Detroit
- ^Discogs -United Sound Studios- profile and discography
- ^Great Soul Music Recording Studios of Detroit Tour
- ^Olson, Peter B."Muscle Shoals Sound Studios".Encyclopedia of Alabama.RetrievedDecember 8,2011.
- ^"Tortoise International at Discogs".Discogs.Retrieved2011-12-29.
- ^"'perhaps..the Very Best of Dan Schafer'".cdbaby.Retrieved2012-03-05.
- ^"You don't have to be a Star".SuperSeventies.Retrieved2011-12-29.