Paul Davis: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Starbuck
• Nigel Olsson
• America
• James Taylor
• Rupert Holmes
• Gordon Lightfoot
• Christopher Cross

• Paul Overstreet

• Happy Mondays

• David Hungate
• Ed Seay
• Bonnie Hayes
• Tanya Tucker
• James Stroud
• Marie Osmond
• Reggie Young

Born:

Apr 21, 1948 in Meridian, MS

Died:

Apr 22, 2008 in Meridian, MS

Genres:

Classical Music, Rock Music, Adult Contemporary Rock Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Spotted playing with his countryrock band by Bert Berns of Bang Records in 1970, Paul Davis was signed to the label as a solo artist. Born on April 21, 1948, in Meridian, MS, his soft, country inflected style helped win him several minor hits, including his first single, a cover of the Jarmels' 1961 doo wop hit "A Little Bit of Soap." He released his first LP with Bang in 1972, A Little Bit of Paul Davis. His next album, Ride 'Em Cowboy, produced a signature song of the same name. He followed up that album with Southern Tracks and Fantasies in 1976. 1977's album, Singer of Songs Teller of Tales featured the ballad "I Go Crazy," which would become his biggest hit, peaking at number seven a full eight months after its release. Its continuing appeal helped keep it in the Top 100 for 40 more weeks.

In 1981, he moved to Arista Records and recorded the LP Cool Night, which spawned two Top 20 hits, including "65 Love Affair." The album was more slickly produced and was more popinfluenced than his previous releases. The formula was not a comfortable one for Davis, however, and he reverted to country recordings, eventually issuing two countrypop duets with Marie Osmond in the late '80s.

- Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide