Maxwell Davis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas Maxwell Davis, Jr. |
| Born | (1916-01-14)January 14, 1916 Independence, Kansas, United States |
| Died | September 18, 1970(1970-09-18) (aged 54) Los Angeles,California, United States |
| Genres | Swing,Jazz,rhythm and blues Urban Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Saxophonist,arranger,record producer |
| Instrument | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1937–1970 |
Thomas Maxwell Davis, Jr. (January 14, 1916 – September 18, 1970),[1] was an Americanrhythm and bluessaxophonist,arranger,bandleader andrecord producer.
Davis was born inIndependence, Kansas in 1916. In 1937, he moved toLos Angeles,California, playing saxophone in theFletcher Henderson orchestra. After some years playingswing andjazz, he became more involved in theWest Coast R&B scene in the mid-1940s, becoming a regularsession musician and arranger for the fast-growingindependent record labels such asAladdin.[2] He also recorded with theJay McShann band, featuring theblues shouterJimmy Witherspoon. By 1952, Davis had played on numerous R&Bhits byPercy Mayfield,Peppermint Harris,Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown,T-Bone Walker,Amos Milburn, and others.[3][4] He also arranged and played onLittle Willie Littlefield's 1952 "K. C. Lovin'" forFederal Records.
In 1955, he left Aladdin and joined theBihari brothers atModern Records (and its subsidiariesRPM,Crown andKent) as musical director and a producer.[5] As the Biharis' main band leader, Davis arranged the music and found the musicians.[6] Although his success rate started to diminish thereafter,[2] he became regarded as an elder statesman and as "the father of West Coast R&B".
"Maxwell Davis is an unsung hero of early rhythm and blues," noted the songwriter and producerMike Stoller. "He produced, in effect, all of the record sessions for Aladdin records, Modern records, all the local independent rhythm and blues companies in the early 1950s, late 1940s in Los Angeles."[7]
His final recording activity was in 1969, as the producer of thesoul singerZ. Z. Hill.[3][5]
Davis died from a heart attack, in Los Angeles, California, in September 1970.[1][8]
