Ray Davis (musician) facts for kids
Raymond Davis (born March 29, 1940 – died July 5, 2005) was an important American singer. He was known for his very low singing voice, called a bass voice. Raymond Davis was one of the first members of a famous music group called The Parliaments. Later, this group grew into the bands Parliament and Funkadelic. Together, these bands were known as P-Funk.
People often called him "Sting Ray" Davis when he was with these groups. He was one of the few original members who stayed with the P-Funk family of bands for a long time. Raymond Davis is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was added to the Hall of Fame in 1997 along with fifteen other members of P-Funk.
Who Was Raymond Davis?
Raymond Davis was born in Sumter, South Carolina. He became a well-known singer with a deep voice. He helped create the unique sound of P-Funk, which mixed different styles of music like funk, soul, and rock.
Early Life and Music
In the early to mid-1980s, Raymond Davis worked with other musicians like Roger Troutman and the band Zapp. You can hear his special bass voice on their songs "I Can Make You Dance" and "Do Wa Ditty." His voice helped make these songs famous.
Joining The Temptations
For a short time, Raymond Davis also joined another very famous group called The Temptations. He joined them after their original bass singer, Melvin Franklin, passed away. Raymond Davis sang on their 1995 album called For Lovers Only. He later left The Temptations due to health reasons.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Raymond Davis continued to perform. He sang with Glenn Leonard, who was also a former member of The Temptations, in a group called The Temptations Experience. In 1998, Raymond Davis teamed up with other original P-Funk members. These included Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Calvin Simon, and "Shady Grady" Thomas. They formed a new group called Original P.
Raymond Davis passed away on July 5, 2005, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was 65 years old. He is remembered for his powerful bass voice and his important role in the history of funk music.
