Record Producer, Songwriter, Musician. He started playing the guitar in the mid-1950s. After leaving Central High School he formed his own jazz group, the Don Davis Trio. He was a session musician and he played for many Detroit record labels, including Golden World and Ric-Tic. He played on early Motown records such as the hits, "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong and Mary Wells' "Bye Bye Baby". He moved on to writing and producing records in Detroit and then joined Stax Records in Memphis. He achieved his first major success as a songwriter and producer in 1968 with Johnnie Taylor’s hit "Who's Making Love", which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles chart and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He worked with Taylor on many of his hits in the 1970s, including the 1971 Rhythm and Blues number 1 hit "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone", which he co-wrote. He co-wrote and produced Taylor's "Disco Lady", which spent four weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart in the United States in 1976, this was the first single to be certified platinum by the (RIAA) Recording Industry Association of America. In 1970 he established himself as a banker, founder of the First Independence Bank, the only African American-owned and operated commercial bank in Michigan. He concentrated on his banking in later years, but continued to operate his music interests as well.
Record Producer, Songwriter, Musician. He started playing the guitar in the mid-1950s. After leaving Central High School he formed his own jazz group, the Don Davis Trio. He was a session musician and he played for many Detroit record labels, including Golden World and Ric-Tic. He played on early Motown records such as the hits, "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong and Mary Wells' "Bye Bye Baby". He moved on to writing and producing records in Detroit and then joined Stax Records in Memphis. He achieved his first major success as a songwriter and producer in 1968 with Johnnie Taylor’s hit "Who's Making Love", which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm and Blues Singles chart and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. He worked with Taylor on many of his hits in the 1970s, including the 1971 Rhythm and Blues number 1 hit "Jody's Got Your Girl and Gone", which he co-wrote. He co-wrote and produced Taylor's "Disco Lady", which spent four weeks at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and six weeks on the Billboard Rhythm and Blues chart in the United States in 1976, this was the first single to be certified platinum by the (RIAA) Recording Industry Association of America. In 1970 he established himself as a banker, founder of the First Independence Bank, the only African American-owned and operated commercial bank in Michigan. He concentrated on his banking in later years, but continued to operate his music interests as well.
Bio by: Babe
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