| Rainy Davis | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Denise Lorraine Davis |
| Born | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Genres | R&B, pop, hip hop |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Columbia |
| Associated acts | Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri |
Denise Lorraine Davis (born December 24), better known by her stage name Rainy Davis, is an American R&B songwriter, singer, and record producer. Out of four Billboard charted singles, Davis is known best for her song "Sweetheart". A generation of fans adopted the song as their anthem to romantic love, giving it a permanent and powerful place in their collective psyche. The single was originally released on the New York-based independent label called Supertronics Records. However, after the song became a hit in the clubs, then on urban radio and eventually crossing over to pop radio, Columbia Records A&R Exec Joe McEwen offered Rainy Davis an attractive production / artist deal which included buying Rainy's previous contract & masters outright with Supertronics (her then current label) for worldwide distribution. Rainy Davis went on to record two albums for Columbi and has received numerous awards for her contributions to hit songs over the years.
Contents |
Davis was born and growed in Brooklyn, New York. Even before be famous, Davis was paying her dues. She was singing with a local band called Jamilia (with band members Keith Sweat, Charisse Davis until she joined the female singing group created and produced by Patrick Adams - Musique, who garnered the club pop hits "In The Bush" and "Keep On Jumpin".
After a few weeks of rehearsals with their new band, Musique was out on the road and Rainy Davis was a live performance member of the female trio group Musique with Becky Bell and Marisa Dejean. Rainy was now on her first tour as a member of a group with two songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Disco Action Charts and then crossing over to a pop hit record. The tour was booked throughout North America by the Norby Walters Agency.
Columbia Records dubbed Rainy Davis "America's Sweetheart" then sent Davis on a national tour to support her debut album. The tour included an appearance on Don Cornelius' TV show Soul Train and a performance at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York. Davis was also a presenter at the Rhythm & Blues awards at Bally's in Las Vegas. Rainy Davis remains a creative force in the music industry. Her publishing company, RainySongs, is a member of ASCAP. She holds interests as a songwriter and music publisher in recordings by Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri, The Cover Girls, Inner Life, Apollo 440 and Rainy Davis.
At the request of Amir Bayyan, (personal friend of the Jacksons), Rainy Davis wrote "Sweetheart" with producer Pete Warner for Janet Jackson. When the demo was finished all the songs for her 1986 album Control, had been chosen. Amir Bayyan, Christine Bayyan and Chris Lord Alge suggested to Davis that she release the song herself, and as a result it became a major hit in the dance and club scene and on urban & pop radio.
| Year | Title | US R&B chart |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Sweetheart" | 24 |
| 1987 | "Lowdown So & So" | 14 |
| 1987 | "Still Waiting" | 41 |
| 1988 | "Indian Giver" | 41 |