Don Davis (2)

Detroit-based producer, label owner, songwriter, and guitarist.
b. October 25, 1938, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. - d. June 05, 2014, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

Davis’ music career started in the mid-1950s at which time the Central High School graduate formed a jazz group called the Don Davis Trio. However, the trio was short-lived and Davis opted to become a studio musician. He played guitar for an array of Detroit based record companies, including Ric-Tic Records.

In the late 1960s Davis began focusing on producing and writing, becoming a key figure with Memphis-based You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show) / We've Got To Get It On Again” by former 5th Dimension Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., also in 1976.

In the ’70s, Davis formed a record production and music publishing company called United Sound Systems, utilized by such artists as the Dramatics, George Clinton, the Dells and David Ruffin.

It came as a major surprise when Don Davis moved into the banking field. Always business minded, he was able to take over First Independence Bank, which was struggling at the time, as a result of having purchased a large number of shares. With Davis at the helm, First Independence became a major success, eventually recognized as the 12th largest African-American owned bank in the United States.

He also worked at Criteria Recording Studios (Miami, FL).