Paul Davis (singer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul L. Davis (born April 21, 1948 in Meridian, Mississippi) is an American singer, best known for his radio hits which span a period from his first solo single in 1969 until 1982, when he charted for the final time alone. His career encompasses soul, country and pop music, and after his recording career effectively ended, he continued to be a prolific writer of country music hits.

Davis became a major player on his home-town music scene around 1966 in the well-loved local band, the Six Soul Survivors, later the Endless Chain. He went on to attract attention in 1968 as a songwriter at the legendary soul label, Malaco Records, based at Jackson, MS. This little-discussed aspect of Paul Davis's career includes many fascinating footnotes, but the songs he wrote - including one for Arthur Conley - show that Davis, a future pop and country star, had genuine soul credentials too.

He was first signed to Bang Records by Ilene Berns, widow of the legendary Bert Berns, in 1969, and in 1970, released a cover of the Jarmels' hit "A Little Bit of Soap", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and reached #6 on the Canadian pop charts. His first album, A Little Bit of Paul Davis, was released in 1970. His third album, Ride 'Em Cowboy, followed in 1974, and spawned a Top 40 single of the same name. In 1977, Davis released the single "I Go Crazy", which rose to #7 and had a record run on the Hot 100. Sweet Life 1977 charted at #17 in 1978.

After two more albums, he defected to Arista Records in 1981, and performed the Top 20 singles "'65 Love Affair" (which rose to #6) and "Cool Night" (which rose to #11). These singles were more pop-oriented and Davis did not feel comfortable entrenched in the genre. He essentially retired from making records, save for two duet singles with Marie Osmond in the late 1980s; and a collaboration with country singers Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet (on 1988's "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love"). He survived a shooting in Nashville on July 30, 1986.

He lives today in Mississippi, and has not been active in the music business for some years.

[edit] Album Discography

A Little Bit of Paul Davis (1970)
Paul Davis (1972)
Ride 'Em Cowboy (1974)
Southern Tracks & Fantasies (1976)
Singer of Songs: Teller of Tales (1977)
Paul Davis (1980)- different album to 1972 release
Cool Night (1981)

[edit] Single Releases

"A Little Bit of Soap" (April 1970) - US #52 (AC #27)
"I Just Wanna Keep It Together" (September 1970) - US #51 (AC #34)
"Boogie Woogie Man" (December 1972) - US #68
"Ride 'Em Cowboy" (October 1974) - US #23 (AC #4)
"Keep Our Love Alive" (July 1975) - US #90
"Thinking Of You" (April 1976) - US #45 (AC #31)
"Superstar" (August 1976) - US #35 (AC #31)
"I Go Crazy" (August 1977) - US #7 (AC #25)
"Darlin'" (May 1978) (duet with Susan Collins) - US #51
"Sweet Life" (August 1978) - US #17 (AC #7)
"Do Right" (March 1980) - US #23 (AC #4)
"Cry Just A Little" (July 1980) - US #78 (AC #36)
"Cool Night" (November 1981) - US #11 (AC #2 for three weeks)
"'65 Love Affair" (February 1982) - US #6 (AC #5)
"Love Or Let Me Be Lonely" (July 1982) - US #40 (AC #11)

A duet with Marie Osmond, "You're Still New To Me," made #1 on the Country chart in 1986. Also of note is that Davis and Osmond re-recorded "Sweet Life" as a duet in 1988 and it made #47 Country.