Don Davis (record producer) facts for kids

Donald Davis (born October 25, 1938 – died June 5, 2014) was an American music producer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was also a successful banker. He managed to have important careers in both music and banking at the same time.

Early Life and Music Career

Don Davis was born in Detroit, Michigan. He started playing music in the mid-1950s. After high school, he formed his own jazz group called the Don Davis Trio. Later, he became a session musician. This means he played guitar for many different recording artists.

He played guitar for several Detroit record labels. These included Golden World and Ric-Tic Records. He also played on early Motown records. You can hear his guitar on famous songs like "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong. He also played on Mary Wells' "Bye Bye Baby".

Becoming a Producer and Songwriter

Don Davis later started writing and producing records in Detroit. He then joined Stax Records in Memphis. His goal was to mix the sounds of Stax and Motown music. He became very successful as a songwriter and producer in 1968.

Davis worked with singer Johnnie Taylor on many hit songs in the 1970s. One big hit was "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone" in 1971. This song reached number one on the R&B charts. Davis helped write this song.

Later, in 1976, he co-wrote and produced Taylor's song "Disco Lady". This song was a huge success. It stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks. It also topped the Billboard R&B chart for six weeks. "Disco Lady" was the first single ever to be certified platinum. This means it sold over one million copies!

RCA/Tortoise International 1977, executive producer-Don Davis

Groovesville and United Sound

Don Davis created his own music companies called Groovesville. These companies focused on record production and music publishing. They are still active today.

In 1971, he bought a famous recording studio in Detroit called United Sound. Many famous musicians recorded there. These included George Clinton, Aretha Franklin, and The Dramatics. He also used the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama for some of his recordings.

In 1975, Davis started a new record label called Tortoise International. This label was based in Detroit and distributed by RCA Records. Artists like The Rockets and The Skyliners released music on this label. In 1977, Davis produced the hit song "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)". This song was sung by Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo.

Banking Career

Besides his music career, Don Davis also became a successful banker. In 1970, he founded the First Independence Bank. This was the only bank in Michigan owned and run by African Americans. In his later years, he focused more on his banking business. However, he still kept his music interests active.

Don Davis lived in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan. He passed away in June 2014 at the age of 75. He was a truly talented person who made a big impact in both music and business.

See also

In Spanish: Don Davis (productor) para niños