Brother Bones
Brother Bones | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Freeman Davis |
| Born | October 4, 1902 Montgomery, Alabama,U.S.[1] |
| Died | June 14, 1974(aged 71) Long Beach, California,United States |
| Genres | popular songs |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, dancer, actor,shoeshiner |
| Instrument(s) | whistling,bone,knives,spoons |
| Years active | 1940s–1950s |
| Formerly of | Scatman Crothers,The Shadows |
Freeman Davis(October 4, 1902 – June 14, 1974[1]) was an Americanwhistlingandboneplaying recording artist best known by hisstage names"Brother Bones"and"Whistling Sam".
Early life
[edit]Freeman Davis was born inMontgomery,Alabama.[1]
Career
[edit]Davis is best remembered for his 1949 recording (as Brother Bones and His Shadows) of the 1925 standard "Sweet Georgia Brown".[2]The recording became nationally famous after its adoption as the theme song of theHarlem Globetrottersbasketball team in 1952. Notably, the bass line for this track uses theNovachord,a very early electronic synthesizer more prominently featured on the B side of the record. Despite the success of this record, Davis himself remained relatively unknown.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]Davis died in June 1974, inLong Beach, California,at the age of 71.[1]Davis was buried inWoodlawn Memorial Park,Compton,Los Angeles County, California.[3]
Popular culture
[edit]His song, "Black Eyed Susan Brown", was sampled in theDe La Soulsong, "Pease Porridge", on their 1991album,De La Soul Is Dead.
"Sweet Georgia Brown" was used in theVauxhall Merivatelevision advertisementin theUK.
References
[edit]- ^abcdThedeadrockstrasclub.com - accessed January 2010
- ^Gioia, Ted (2012).The Jazz Standards: A Guide to the Repertoire.New York: Oxford University Press. p. 413.ISBN9780199769155.
- ^Jackson-Fossett, Cora (February 2, 2022)."Praises to God Highlight Grand Opening of Woodlawn Celestial Gardens".Los Angeles Sentinel.
External links
[edit]- Freeman "Brother Bones" Davis (1902–1974) – Find A Grave Memorial
- Recordings of Brother Bonesat the Online Guide to Whistling Records
- Who is Brother Bones?on BoneDryMusic.com
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