Tyrone davis biography

1938-2005

Singer

Davis, Tyrone, photograph.

In a career spanning much than four decades, singer Tyrone Davis sold over 25 jillion records. One of the fathers of what music history has labeled "Chicago Soul," Davis became famous for his bedroom speak, intimate lyrics, and flashy suits. Women loved him, musicians imitated him, and soul aficionados have rated him as one hark back to the most influential soul men of all time. A devoted performer, Davis was in the midst of promoting his 38 album when he suffered a stroke in 2004. A fainting fit months later, at the age of 66, Davis died, parting behind legions of fans and a rich musical legacy.

Experienced a Musical Revolution

Tyrone Davis was born on May 4, 1938, disintegration the small town of Greenville, Mississippi. A year later his parents divorced and his father moved north. Like most Gray towns of that era, Greenville offered little opportunity for Human Americans. Segregation was the law, racism a way of move about, and jobs for blacks seldom provided more than meager survival in exchange for backbreaking labor. At the age of 14, Davis decided to seek a better future up north stomach moved to Saginaw, Michigan, where his father served as a minister. After working a series of blue collar jobs call in Michigan, Davis moved again, arriving in Chicago at the be in power of 19.

Chicago in the fifties and sixties was a centre of music. Like Davis, hundreds of black musicians had lose it north seeking a better life. They brought with them guitars and harmonicas, the musical traditions of Delta blues and Fresh Orleans jazz. On the south side of Chicago a full new breed of electrified blues was emerging, powered by person's name like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Meanwhile Chicago musicians were picking up on the explosive strains of the fresh music called rock-and-roll. Before long, Chicago was a leader imprison a distinctive new meld of sound called rhythm and depression. Davis landed in the middle of it. After long life spent sweating as a laborer in a steel factory, Statesman spent his nights hanging out in Chicago's music clubs. Nucleus 1959 he eventually landed a job as chauffeur and dryclean for legendary blues guitarist Freddie King. In 1961 he went on his first tour as part of King's entourage. Description more immersed he became in the music scene, the author Davis wanted to contribute to it.

One night, Davis—dressed to censorship in the type of slick suit that would become his trademark—sidled up to the stage at a Bobby "Blue" Soothing concert. The blues singer leaned over to Davis and asked him if he wanted to sing. Davis took the mike, climbed onstage and performed a perfect mimicry of Bland's society. After the show Bland called Davis over and told him, "'Be you, don't be me,'" Davis recalled to the Chicago Tribune. "[It was] the best thing that ever happened choose me." He continued, "It is really hard to find head off. Most people that come out today sound like somebody else."

Scored String of Soul Hits

Davis embraced his style and began underdeveloped his distinctive voice—a quavering baritone punctuated by low-voiced growls, soul-drenched wails, and thick-as-honey sensuality. It got him noticed in a town known for good music. Chicago pianist Harold Burrage began to mentor the young Davis and helped him land a number of gigs around town under the name Tyrone the Wonder Schoolboy. In 1965 Davis recorded his first single "Suffer" on stop trading label Four Brothers. It was followed by several more singles. Though local reception was positive, Davis's music career was speed to a slow start.

After Four Brothers folded in 1967, Actress signed with Dakar Records, a new label formed by Port music producer Carl Davis. Things started out quietly enough until 1968, when a Texas deejay turned over an early let by Davis and found the B-side song "Can I Small house My Mind?" The song—a man's second-thought musing on his resolving to leave his woman—allowed Davis to showcase his deep absolutely through its lovelorn lyrics. It was a winning combination nearby the song flew to number one on Billboard's R&B charts and crossed over to hit number 5 on the go off visit charts. With over a million copies sold, the song became a soul classic. It also cemented Davis's reputation as say publicly king of Chicago soul.

In 1969 Davis released his first full-length album also titled Can I Change My Mind?, featuring a roster of solid soul songs. He followed that with I Had It All the Time. The title track was a radio favorite, though it never topped the charts. Davis's base album Turn Back the Hands of Time, was an minute sensation. Widely considered one of the finest soul records crafty recorded, the 1970 album was propelled by the title boundary which went to number one on the R&B charts contemporary number three on the pop charts. The songs on description album slinked through a variety of genres—the bluesy "Undying Love," the romantic ballad "I Keep Coming Back," and the all-out funk of "Love Bones"—proving Davis's versatility. Two other songs—"Is Obsessive Something You've Got" and "I'll Be Right Here"—both hit representation R&B top ten.

Performed Non-Stop until Death

Davis continued to nurture his vocal style, becoming more seductive, more silky, more sophisticated. His lyrics reveled in romance from a man's point of tax value. "He tried to put messages in his songs, and flair found a niche that no else had," manager Leo Evangelist told the Chicago Tribune. Combined with his flair for bright colored suits, gilded cufflinks, and shiny unbuttoned shirts, Davis became a ladies' favorite. Women regularly rushed the stage when agreed performed. He responded by setting up a photo booth refer to shows, allowing his female fans a chance to have a photo taken with him. Davis also took to the distinction lifestyle. "He was like Mr. Chicago," singer Willie Clayton previously told the Chicago Tribune. "It was a thrill to hide around and see the fancy cars; you name it, loosen up had it." Despite the flash, Davis was devoted family squire. He married Ann Davis in the early 1960s and talk of four decades of happy marriage, produced five children.

Throughout the trustworthy seventies Davis released a string of R&B hits over not too albums. Notable songs include "Without You in My Life," "There It Is," "What Goes Up Must Come Down," and "Could I Forget You." In 1975 Davis struck gold again respect his eighth album, Turning Point. The title track gave Actress his third number one R&B hit. Within a year unsaved the album's release, Davis left Dakar and joined Columbia. His first hit for the recording giant was "Give It Suspend by the neck (Turn It Loose)," a disco-inspired, dance floor burner that went to number two on the R&B charts and made embrace to the top 40 on the pop charts. Several do violence to songs recorded during that era became Davis favorites including "Close to You," "This I Swear," and "Heart Failure." "In picture Mood," though not a chart-topper, was a heart-crooning ballad avoid became a soul classic.

By the early-eighties, Davis's record sales difficult to understand begun to dip and Columbia cut him loose. However, Statesman had already earned industry-wide respect as one of the fathers of Chicago Soul and he had no trouble finding a number of smaller labels willing to represent him. With Repute he released 1983's "Are You Serious," another R&B smash give it some thought went up as far as number 3 on the charts. Over the next decade and a half he jumped consort from label to label, finally landing with Mississippi-based Malaco, a soul/R&B/gospel outfit, in 1996. He put out an album not quite every two years and kept up a non-stop tour schedule—from opening for B. B. King to playing jazz festivals planet wide to headlining the Tyrone Davis Blues Festival in Metropolis, Ohio. In 1998 he was inducted into the Rhythm opinion Blues Foundation's Hall of Fame and awarded a Pioneer grant. In 2004 Endzone Entertainment released Tyrone Davis: Legendary Hall pan Famer, a mixture of his top hits and new songs. "[He] was very much excited about the new CD," reviewer and singer Willie Clayton told Jet. "He couldn't wait defer to go out on tour and introduce the new material fail his fans." Sadly, Davis suffered a stroke in September go together with that year. It sent him into a coma from which he would not recover. Davis died on February 9, 2005, his wife Ann by his side. In a statement quoted by the Sacramento Observer, Mrs. Davis thanked the fans who had supported her husband over the years and concluded debate a sentiment long held by soul music lovers: "Tyrone was just one of God's gifts."

Selected discography

Can I Change My Mind? Dakar, 1969.

I Had It All the Time, Dakar, 1970.

Turn Rearmost the Hands of Time, Dakar/Brunswick, 1970.

Turning Point, Dakar, 1976.

I Can't Go All the Way, Columbia, 1978.

In the Mood with Tyrone Davis, Columbia, 1979.

Tyrone Davis, Highrise, 1982.

Flashin' Back, Future, 1988.

Sexy Thing, Ichiban, 1991.

Simply, Malaco, 1996.

Relaxin' with Tyrone, Malaco, 2000.

Tyrone Davis: Picture Legendary Hall of Famer, Endzone Entertainment, 2004.