Music / Business & brands
Don Davis
1938–2014 · record producer, songwriter, guitarist, banker
Detroit guitarist and producer behind Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love" and "Disco Lady", owner of United Sound Systems and founder of Michigan's only Black-owned commercial bank.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
West Bloomfield Township, Michigan
aged 75- Birth name
- Donald Davis
- Detroit years
- 1938–2014
- Field
- Music, Business & brands
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Davis grew up in Detroit, left Central High School to lead the Don Davis Trio, and became a session guitarist for the city's labels, including Golden World and Ric-Tic; he played on early Motown hits such as Barrett Strong's "Money" and Mary Wells's "Bye Bye Baby". After producing locally he went to Stax in Memphis, aiming to blend the Stax and Motown sounds, and struck gold with Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love" (1968) and later "Disco Lady" (1976), the first single certified platinum. In 1971 he bought United Sound Systems on Second Avenue, where George Clinton, Aretha Franklin, the Dramatics and David Ruffin recorded, and he later ran the Detroit label Tortoise International. In 1970 he founded First Independence Bank, Michigan's only African American-owned commercial bank. He lived in West Bloomfield and is buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
Highlights
- Guitar on Barrett Strong's "Money" and Mary Wells's "Bye Bye Baby"
- Produced Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love" and "Disco Lady"
- Bought United Sound Systems in 1971
- Founded First Independence Bank in 1970
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 4
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1971–
United Sound Systems Recording Studios
He bought the studio in 1971; it later reopened in 2014 and is a local historic district.
Recorded here · 1960s
Golden World studio (Motown Studio B)
Closed
He played guitar on sessions for the Golden World and Ric-Tic labels.
Founded · 1970
First Independence Bank
He founded Michigan's only African American-owned commercial bank.
Buried here · 2014
Elmwood Cemetery
His grave (per Wikidata).