Blues On Stage - Tyrone Davis Profile

Profile
Tyrone Davis

"I am not a blues singer" says Tyrone Davis with an emphatic nod. He is however, one of the finest and most polished stylists of rhythm and blues and soul performing today. Always the consummate professional, Davis has been thrilling crowds on what was known as the chitlin’ circuit for nearly 30 years. With his flashy, trademark multicolored shirts open to the waist, his gyrating hips and singular vocal style, Davis’ popularity among his female fans is legendary. He probably has one of the largest female followings of any soul/R&B singer on the circuit today. There are usually shouts of "TD," as his familiar tour bus pulls into town, women will rush the stage screaming and waving their arms and his club shows always have a special photo booth set up so his enduring fans can get a picture of themselves with Tyrone.

Born in Greenville, Mississippi, on May 4, 1938, Tyrone Davis was 14 when he moved to Michigan. By age 19 he had settled in Chicago where he came of age in the music business and his 30 year recording career flourished. His early mentors included Bobby "Blue" Bland and Little Milton. He quickly fell into the music scene in the Windy City when he befriended guitarists Freddie King, Otis Rush and Mighty Joe Young and soul singer Otis Clay as he began to cut his musical teeth in the small clubs on the West and South Side of Chicago. He started recording in the late 60’s and his big break came about almost by accident when a Texas disc jockey started playing the flip side to one of his first singles that wasn’t going anywhere. That song was "Can I Change My Mind?" and it went on to hit the top of the Billboard charts crossing over from the R&B to the pop charts and becoming a million copy seller. He never looked back and has had a phenomenal run of chart topping hits over the past several decades including "Turn Back the Hands of Time," "Turning Pointe," and the 1970’s disco era hit "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)."

Tyrone Davis, with his chic and classic soul styling, is always backed by a very professional, tight and funky band and continues to thrill every crowd he plays for. In 1998 Davis was awarded the prestigious R&B Foundation’s Pioneer Award for his lifetime of work and remains, along with a handful of other classic soul singers, a vital force on the recording and touring circuit. And the women still love him.

E-mail Ray Stiles at: mnblues@aol.com

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Copyright © 1998 by Ray M. Stiles
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