Dennis Davis facts for kids

Dennis Davis (born August 28, 1949 – died April 6, 2016) was a super talented American drummer. He was famous for playing with the legendary musician David Bowie. Dennis played on many of Bowie's albums and hit songs, like "Fame" from 1975. He was a "session musician," which means he was hired to play on recordings for many different artists.

Early Life and Music Journey

Dennis Davis grew up in Manhattan, a busy part of New York City. From a young age, he loved music. He learned to play drums from amazing drummers like Max Roach and Elvin Jones. In 1967, when he was just 18, he joined the Clark Terry Big Band. This was a big band that played jazz music.

Serving His Country

From 1969 to 1970, Dennis joined the U.S. Navy. He served on a ship called the USS Rowan (DD-782). Even while serving, he kept playing music. He was part of the U.S. Navy's Drum and Bugle Corps. This helped him get even better at playing the drums.

Amazing Music Career

Dennis Davis met guitarist Carlos Alomar while they were both playing with Roy Ayers. This meeting was very important for Dennis's career.

Playing with David Bowie

In 1974, David Bowie hired Dennis to play on two songs for his album Young Americans. Dennis, Carlos Alomar, and bass player George Murray became a powerful team. They were known as the "D.A.M. Trio." This trio played on seven of Bowie's albums in a row during the 1970s. Many people think these albums are some of Bowie's best work.

Dennis also played on live albums from that time. One famous sound he helped create was the snare drum sound on Bowie's Low album. It was a special sound that influenced many other musicians.

Working with Other Stars

In the late 1970s, Dennis also started working with the incredible musician Stevie Wonder. He played on four of Stevie Wonder's albums over the next ten years. In the early 2000s, Dennis played percussion on David Bowie's live tours. This included Bowie's very last tour, A Reality Tour, in 2003. The main drummer for that tour, Sterling Campbell, had actually been a student of Dennis!

His Final Years

Dennis Davis passed away on April 6, 2016, after battling cancer. He left behind an amazing musical legacy.

Family Life

Dennis Davis had two sons. His younger son, Hikaru Davis, made videos from 2016 to 2019. In these videos, he interviewed musicians who knew his father. Dennis's elder son, T-Bone Motta, is also a drummer. He has been the drummer for the famous hip-hop group Public Enemy since 2012.

Some of His Music Albums

Dennis Davis played on many albums. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

With Roy Ayers

• Red, Black and Green (1973)
• Coffy (1973)
• A Tear to a Smile (1975)
• Vibrations (1976)

With George Benson

• Good King Bad (1975)

With David Bowie

• Young Americans (1975) – including "Across the Universe" and "Fame"
• Station to Station (1976)
• Low (1977)
• "Heroes" (1977)
• Stage (1978)
• Lodger (1979)
• Scary Monsters (1980)

With Stevie Wonder

• Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants (1979)
• Hotter Than July (1980) – including "Master Blaster (Jammin')"
• Original Musiquarium (1982)
• Characters (1987)