The Davis Sisters facts for kids

The Davis Sisters: Ruth, Thelma, Audrey and Alfreda Davis along with Curtis Dublin

The Davis Sisters were a famous American gospel group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ruth ("Baby Sis") Davis started the group in 1945 with her sisters Thelma, Audrey, Alfreda, and Edna. Later, Imogene Greene joined in 1950, and then Jackie Verdell took her place when Imogene left to join another group called the Caravans.

How the Group Started

The Famous Davis Sisters began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1945. Ruth Davis, who started the group, had been in the Women's Air Corps during World War II. While serving, she felt a strong desire to make music. After leaving the military, Ruth was looking for a new purpose in life.

One day, while walking in the rain, Ruth slipped in front of a moving trolley. She felt someone help her up, but when she turned around, no one was there. This amazing experience made her feel that God wanted her to spread good news through singing. She felt truly blessed and inspired to start a music group. Ruth said that two singers, Ira Tucker and Dinah Washington, encouraged her to become a singer.

Right after this experience in 1945, Ruth gathered all her sisters to form a religious singing group. Ruth played the piano. Her youngest sister, Alfreda, was only 10 years old! Ruth was the spiritual leader, and her strong faith inspired her sisters. The girls practiced a lot using old hymn books and songs from the radio. The Davis Sisters performed for the first time at their parents' home in Philadelphia in 1946.

They lived in Philadelphia and started singing in churches and at events. They quickly became very popular. Ruth carefully arranged how they stood around the microphone to make their voices sound deep and full. They signed their first recording contract in 1947.

Amazing Performances

The Davis Sisters often performed at the "Met" Theater in Philadelphia. They always filled the place, and people would wait eagerly for them to arrive. Alfreda usually led them as they walked onto the stage. Their live shows were incredible! Ruth Davis had such a powerful voice that she could start a song without any introduction. When she sang "Shine On Me," she would throw her handkerchief in the air, and the crowd would get very excited. Many people felt deeply moved by her singing. When Thelma sang "Jesus," the audience also responded with great energy.

In their early days, the Davis Sisters usually wore simple choir robes. They were only joined by their pianist, Curtis Dublin. The Famous Davis Sisters helped change gospel music. They moved from groups singing without instruments to female groups singing with musical accompaniment.

Other artists often praised their singing as being full of spirit. Ruth Davis's solo songs were also very strong. Her recordings like "Jesus Steps Right In" and "Too Close to Heaven" showed off her amazing voice. She had a powerful, wide-ranging contralto voice that was both beautiful and strong.

The Davis Sisters also had two other great singers join them. Imogene Green had a deep, beautiful alto voice. Jackie Verdell replaced Green in 1955. Jackie had a bright and clear mezzo-soprano voice. She was amazing at singing sad "gospel blues" songs like "Lord Don't Leave Me." The Davis Sisters also used rhythmic and lively dance moves in their performances. Other singers, like Dorothy Love Coates and the Ward Singers, later became famous for this style. The Davis Sisters were much influenced by Gertrude Ward, who guided the Ward Singers and was a leader in American gospel music. Ray Charles even based the sound of his backup group, the Raelettes, on groups like the Davis Sisters.

Losing their pianist, Curtis Dublin, was very hard for the group. But they kept going with their mission to spread the gospel through song. No one could play the piano like Curtis, with his unique style and speed. The Hammond B-3 organ became more common in gospel music and helped fill the sound, even when another talented pianist joined them. Over the years, the sisters passed away one by one. But the same spirit that started the Davis Sisters kept them going for four decades. Their strong will was shown in the title of one of their albums: "Undaunted."

Some people thought the Famous Davis Sisters were unlucky because some of their members died while the group was still active. But many gospel stars from the 1950s, including Mahalia Jackson, did not live to be very old. The Davis Sisters started during World War II and kept their group together with its original sound for forty years. They remained very popular in the gospel music world.

In the 1970s, after Ruth (Baby Sis) had passed away, their agent booked the group for a concert in Brooklyn, New York. They were late as usual, and their driver was speeding. A New Jersey State Trooper stopped their car. The driver explained that she was driving the Famous Davis Sisters to a concert and they were late. The State Troopers not only let them go without a ticket but also escorted their car all the way to the concert in Brooklyn! They were still a little late, but everything worked out. Everyone felt that Baby Sis was still watching over her group!

Group Members

The main members of the group were biological sisters. But over the years, some non-family members also joined.

• Ruth Davis - Nicknamed Baby Sis, she started the group at age 17. Born on September 27, 1927, she was the main singer with a bluesy voice. She could also play the piano but never did on stage. She was the creative mind behind the group's music. She was not afraid to try new things. Some of her gospel songs even used singing styles from rock and roll songs. One of her unique arrangements was "Earnestly Praying," which used the music from a 1961 pop hit called "Tossing' and Turnin'." Ruth passed away on January 2, 1970.
• Alfreda Davis - Born January 1, 1934. She was the group's business manager for a long time. She always collected the money from the concert promoter before the sisters went on stage. She was the youngest sister and started singing with them at age 10. She passed away on June 15, 1990.
• Thelma Davis - Born April 1, 1929. She joined at age 15 and was one of the original sisters. Her most famous song was "Jesus, He's My King." Thelma also wrote songs for the group. Sadly, she passed away on January 2, 1956, at age 26. She had developed pneumonia after giving birth and started touring too soon. Her funeral was one of the largest in Philadelphia's history.
• Audrey Davis - Another original sister. She was the soprano of the group. She led songs like "Jesus is A Waymaker." Audrey was close friends with Aretha Franklin. Audrey Davis passed away on July 25, 1982.
• Edna Davis - A sister who sang at concerts but never recorded with the group. She is no longer living.
• Bernard Davis - The youngest brother, who became the Business Manager.
• Curtis Dublin - The pianist, who joined the group in 1947 when he was 19. He played piano with a strong jazz and rag-time style. He lived with the Davis family and passed away from a heart attack on December 29, 1964.
• Jackie Verdell - Joined at age 15. She was from Camden, New Jersey. The Davis Sisters supported her and treated her like family. She had a powerful voice. She also had a solo career and recorded her favorite song, "Kumbaya." She passed away in August 1991.
• Imogene Green - A soprano from Chicago, Illinois. She had sung with other famous gospel groups. She passed away in July 1982.
• Leila Dargan - From Baltimore, Maryland. She was the second lead singer on the song "On The Right Road" recorded in 1964. She passed away in a house fire in the 1980s.
• Cynthia Young - A vocalist who sometimes played the piano after Curtis passed away.

Recordings and Popularity

The Davis Sisters made their first professional recordings in 1947. They later met Madame Gertrude Ward, who managed the Famous Ward Singers. She helped them sign with the Gotham label. In 1949, they recorded "In The Morning When I Rise." Their song "Jesus Steps In" was later covered by Mahalia Jackson, and "Too Close To Heaven" became a big hit for Alex Bradford.

In 1955, the Davis Sisters signed with the Savoy label. Their hit song and theme song, "Twelve Gates To The City," was the title of their first album on Savoy. This album is still sold today! Savoy released many singles and albums by the Davis Sisters. Many people around the world learned about their music by listening to their Savoy albums on the radio or at home.

In the 1950s and 60s, the Famous Davis Sisters continued to record and tour. In 1962, Ruth ("Baby Sis") decided she needed some space. She moved to New York City and formed her own group called "The Ruth Davis Specials of New York City." Their record producer at Savoy tried to take advantage of this. He released an album that seemed to include both groups, but this made the sisters unhappy, and they left his label.

Ruth and her sisters soon made up and started touring together again as a family. In 1964, a concert in Hot Springs, Arkansas, was recorded by the famous RCA label. This was their first recording in stereo sound. The album was called "The Davis Sisters Sing Authentic Southern Style Gospel."

Changes in the group continued in the 1960s. Later recordings were made on smaller labels. Their last full album in the 1980s was so popular that it was re-released with a different cover. Some of their television appearances can still be seen online, and older recordings are now available on CD. As of 2007, all the original Davis Sisters and their parents have passed away. Only their children, grandchildren, and a few in-laws survive.

Discography

• 1949-1952 (Heritage 47, 2003) (Gotham recordings)
• 1950 Gotham 716 - Bye and Bye
• 1955 Twelve Gates To The City - Savoy 14000)
• 1956 Shine On Me - Savoy MG 14007)
• 1958 He That Believeth - Savoy MG-14014)
• 1958 Plant My Feet On Higher Ground - Savoy MG 14030)
• 1959 Jesus Gave Me Water - Savoy 14036)
• 1962 Somewhere In Glory - Savoy MG 14061)
• 1962 The Famous Davis Sisters Earnestly Praying - Savoy MG 14051)
• 1964 Authentic Southern Style Gospel - RCAVictor LPM 2851)
• 1967 In My Room - Savoy MG 14183)
• 1967 They Wait Upon The Lord - Savoy MG 14199) This Album and following share the same Catalog#
• 1967 Wait A Little Closer - Savoy MG 14199)
• 1970 Get Right With God - Hob 297)
• 1970 Get Right With God - Savoy
• 1970 Ruth Davis Memorial Album - Savoy MG 14250)
• 1973 The Undaunted - Savoy 14306)
• The Best of the Davis Sisters (Savoy LP/CD 7017, 1978/2001)(Savoy recordings, 1955–1968)