Carl Davis (record producer) facts for kids

Carl H. Davis Sr. (born September 19, 1934 – died August 9, 2012) was a very important American record producer and music boss. He worked mostly in Chicago during the 1960s and 1970s. He helped create many popular R&B songs for famous artists. Some of these artists included Gene Chandler, Major Lance, Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin, and Tyrone Davis.

Carl Davis's Amazing Music Journey

Carl Davis's Early Career in Music

Carl Davis was born in Chicago. He went to Englewood High School there. In 1955, he started working as an assistant. He helped a disc jockey named Al Benson at radio station WGES. After that, he joined a company that sold records.

In the early 1960s, Carl helped manage a small record company called Nat. He produced a local hit song called "Nite Owl" for a group called the DuKays. He also produced another song, "Duke of Earl." This song was sung by Gene Chandler, the lead singer of the DuKays. "Duke of Earl" became a number one hit across the country. This happened after it was shared with a bigger record company called Vee-Jay.

Producing Hits at Okeh Records

In 1962, Carl Davis started working for OKeh. This was a part of the big Columbia company. At Okeh, he was a producer and an A&R director. An A&R director helps find new artists and songs.

Carl produced many hit songs for artists like Major Lance, Billy Butler, and Walter Jackson. Many of these songs had a special sound. They often had lively music with brass instruments and a Latin feel. These songs were great for dancing. Many of them were written by Curtis Mayfield. Curtis felt these songs were not right for his own group, The Impressions. Carl also kept producing songs for Gene Chandler and The Artistics. For a short time, he even produced music for Mary Wells after she left Motown.

Success with Brunswick and Dakar Records

In the mid-1960s, Carl Davis began working for Brunswick Records. There, he produced a big comeback hit for Jackie Wilson called "Whispers." He also produced Jackie Wilson's song "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher." This song sold over a million copies! Carl also produced "Love Makes a Woman" for Barbara Acklin. He helped create several early hits for The Chi-Lites too.

Carl also started his own record company called Dakar. This label had many hits with Tyrone Davis (who was not related to Carl). Some of his popular songs were "Can I Change My Mind" and "Turn Back the Hands of Time." Dakar Records also found success with Hamilton Bohannon.

Chi Sound Records and Later Years

The Dakar label closed in 1976. After that, Carl Davis started a new company called Chi Sound Records. He continued to have success with Walter Jackson. In 1978, he had a major hit song with Gene Chandler's "Get Down."

Chi Sound Records closed down in 1983. But it came back for a short time in 1989–90. Then, it reopened in 2007 and stayed active until Carl Davis passed away. On February 11, 2013, Carl Davis was honored at the 55th Grammy Awards. He was remembered along with other important people in the music business.

Carl Davis's life story was written in a book. It was called The Man Behind the Music: The Legendary Carl Davis. The book was published in May 2011.

Passing Away

Carl Davis passed away on August 9, 2012. He was 77 years old. He died from a lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis at his home in Summerville, South Carolina.