Melvin Lee Davis
BornOrange County, California, U.S.
GenresR&B, jazz, funk, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, music director
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, keyboards, piano
LabelsP-Vine
Websitewww.melvinleedavis.com

Melvin Lee Davis is an American bass player, vocalist, keyboard player, producer, TV composer and engineer based in Orange County, California. He is the music director for Grammy-award winning artist Chaka Khan and has recorded with The Pointer Sisters, Lee Ritenour, Bryan Ferry, Patti Austin and Gladys Knight & the Pips. He co-wrote "Soul Train's a-Comin", the theme song for the television show Soul Train.[1] His albums, Tomorrow's Yesterday and Nature's Serenade were released through The Orchard; LTV: Love, Truth & Victory was released through P-Vine Records.

Early life and career

Born and raised in Orange County, Melvin Lee Davis played the violin at age four and the saxophone at age six; he took up guitar while he was in high school. He was discovered by a saxophone player in Buddy Miles's jazz band who was dating his sister while Davis was playing at a club. Miles flew Davis to New York City to audition and hired him on the spot.[1]

Davis played in New York City clubs and met Soul Train producer Don Cornelius through a mutual friend, Ron Kersey. According to Davis, Davis made many of his contacts in R&B through Cornelius. "...if you were a black musician in the business of making R&B and soul music and wanted to get on television, you had to go through Don Cornelius," he said.[1][2]

His association with Cornelius lead him to co-write the Soul Train theme, "Soul Train's A-Comin'". Davis has worked for Grammy award winning singer Chaka Khan as a session and touring bassist in addition to music director. He's also worked with Lee Ritenour, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Pointer Sisters, and Bryan Ferry.[2][3]

Discography

  • Nature's Serenade (2003)
  • Tomorrow’s Yesterday (2000)
  • LTV: Love, Truth & Victory (1996)
  • Genre: Music (2011)

Selected credits

With Lee Ritenour

  • Alive in L.A.
  • This Is Love
  • Rit's House
  • Wes Bound
  • Smoke 'n' Mirrors
  • 6 String Theory

With George Benson

  • Love Remembers
  • Standing Together
  • Irreplaceable

With Patti Austin

  • That Secret Place
  • Reach

With others

References

  1. 1 2 3 Liebman, Jon (17 May 2010). "Melvin Lee Davis". For Bass Players Only. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  2. 1 2 Bentley, Mark (April 2011). "On the Side: Melvin Lee Davis". Smooth Views: Keeping Smooth Jazz in Sight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "Melvin Lee Davis". Viva Roxy Music. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
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