Who is/was J.C. Davis
ansermetniac
The tenor solo is very nice. When I consulted John Laughter's list it
showed that J.C. Davis was the cat.
Can anybody tell me about him?
Abbedd
______________
E.A.F.E.
"Please judge me by the enemies I make"
FDR
Tim
Polydor PLG849108 by James Brown.
Great sound and ideas...monster sound.
Think any of these fleshbags are gonna know him?
Comon man,,He's also on- Nat Kendrick and The Swans: where James is
playing organ.
In those days,,a young stud named Maceo Parker was playing tenor and
baritone saxophone in the sections.
St Clair was another tenor player of note that WAS really saying
something hip. Wanna hear a Metal Berg scream- dig St Clair.
If someone is playing funk/or rock, you can tell where they are comin
from if they _DO NOT_know these guys.
Your either _in the mix_or your just spewing bullshit and don't have a
clue.This is stuff cats should make their BUSINESS to know about.
Check it- Tim Price
John Laughter
Solos-1955-2003"
****Photo**** shows Davis playing a King Super 20.
1962
#35 NIGHT TRAIN-JAMES BROWN-J. C. DAVIS-(SOLO)-TENOR
ALFRED CORLEY-ALTO
AL "BRISCO" CLARK-BARITONE
ROSCOE PATRICK-TRUMPET
Photo and bio courtesy Alan Leeds
A special thanks to Heinrich Buttler
http://www.buttler-design.de/JB/wants-list.swf
http://www.buttler-design.de/Event/Photography.swf
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/i/jb-escape/index-e.html
John:
Here's what I know about JAMES "J.C." DAVIS, along with a scanned photo
from a 1960 tour program booklet:
He seems to have hailed from Burlington, N.C. but somehow ended up
living in Ohio where he first met James Brown, just as Brown's career
had progressed enough to afford hiring a road band to accompany his
Famous Flames. (Contrary to popular belief, the Famous Flames were
Brown's original group - consisting of 4 other singers and a guitarist.
Several of the singers alternated - with Brown - on piano and drums
until they could afford to hire back-up musicians). The Famous Flames
NEVER designated Brown's actual band.
Around October, 1958, Davis joined Brown's road show in Columbus, Ohio,
as band director and chief soloist.
While with Brown, Davis appeared on many recording sessions -
frequently taking sax solos - and even recorded a solo single with the
Brown band as JAMES DAVIS on Federal Records. Davis also recorded a
series of instrumental singles for Chicago's Chess family of labels,
under his own name.
Sometime in late February, 1961, Davis quit Brown's band to assume a
similar position with ETTA JAMES until May, 1962.
By now a veteran and trusted leader for tour-worthy back-up bands, when
Etta was not working, Davis hired out his group and backed up JACKIE
WILSON in February-March, 1962.
After leaving Etta James, he toured the 1962 summer months with LITTLE
WILLIE JOHN.
Davis continued to free-lance and other "sightings" have his "quintet"
backing a December, 1962, one-nighter package that consisted of THE
DRIFTERS, GENE CHANDLER & MAXINE BROWN, and a string of May, 1964 dates
with JACKIE WILSON.
I've been told he settled in Cleveland, Ohio, in the mid-60's.
Unfortunately, that's all I know.
PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY:
DEC. 18, 1958-LOS ANGELES as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
GOT TO CRY
IT WAS YOU
I WANT YOU SO BAD
JAN. 30, 1959-NEW YORK as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
IT HURTS TO TELL YOU
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO ME
BEWILDERED
as JAMES DAVIS (Federal 45-12360)
DOODLE BEE
BUCKET HEAD
JUNE, 1959-NEW YORK as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
GOOD GOOD LOVIN'
NOV. 11, 1959-CINCINNATI as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
WONDER WHEN YOU'RE COMING HOME
I'LL GO CRAZY
THIS OLD HEART
I KNOW IT'S TRUE
NOV., 1959-NEW YORK as LITTLE BOBBY ROACH & HIS COMBO (Fire 45-1013)
MUSH
MORE MUSH
This was the Brown band instrumentally recorded under guitarist Roach's
name
NOV., 1959-MIAMI as NAT KENDRICK & THE SWANS (Dade 45-1804)
(DO THE) MASHED POTATOES PT.1
(DO THE) MASHED POTATOES PT.2
Another project of Brown & band under drummer Kendrick's name
DEC., 1962-NEW YORK as KIP ANDERSON (Everlast 45-5021)
I FEEL GOOD
I WILL CRY
Davis & the Brown band backing singer Anderson.
FEB. 20, 1960-HOLLYWOOD as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
THINK
I'LL NEVER, NEVER LET YOU GO
YOU'VE GOT THE POWER
IF YOU WANT ME
Late MAY, 1960-MIAMI as NAT KENDRICK & THE SWANS (Dade 45-1808)
DISH RAG PT. 1
DISH RAG PT. 2
As BABY LLOYD (Atco 45-6175)
WAIT AND SEE
I NEED LOVE
The Brown band backing Famous Flame Baby Lloyd (Stallworth)'s solo
single
SEPT. 27, 1960-HOLLYWOOD as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
BABY YOU'RE RIGHT
LOVE DON'T LOVE NOBODY
SEPT. 29, 1960-HOLLYWOOD as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
COME OVER HERE
JUST YOU AND ME, DARLING
SO LONG
OCT. 4, 1960-HOLLYWOOD as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO (alto sax solo by Al Corley)
THE BELLS
As JAMES BROWN PRESENTS HIS BAND
HOLD IT
THE SCRATCH
LATE, 1960-MIAMI as NAT KENDRICK & THE SWANS (Dade 45-1812)
SLOWDOWN
HOT CHILE
DEC., 1960-Probably CHICAGO as J.C. DAVIS (Argo 45-5382)
THE SPLIB PT. 1
THE SPLIB PT. 2
The Brown band recording under Davis' name
FEB. 9, 1961-CINCINNATI as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
DANCIN' LITTLE THING
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO
LOST SOMEONE
SHOUT AND SHIMMY
NIGHT TRAIN
As JAMES BROWN PRESENTS HIS BAND
SUDS
STICKY
FEB. 10, 1961-CINCINNATI as JAMES BROWN & THE FAMOUS FLAMES
I LOVE YOU, YES I DO
Ci. MARCH, 1962-CHICAGO as J.C. DAVIS (Chess 45-1831)
THE CHICKEN SCRATCH
SHAKE WITH ME
Davis recording with his own (unidentified) band
MAY-JUNE, 1963-CHICAGO as J.C. DAVIS
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC (Chess 45-1885)
SWEET SWEET LOVE (Chess 45-1858)
THE MONKEY (Chess 45-1858)
COOLIN' OUT (Chess LP 9293)
Davis with unidentified accompaniment
JANUARY, 1964-CHICAGO as J.C. DAVIS
FRENCKY (Chess 45-1885)
There were several unissued titles also recorded at the above Chess
Records sessions as well as one additional date in 1965.
Hope this helps somewhat. Let me know if you need any data on other
James Brown (or Ray Charles) associated saxists.
See attached photo.
ALAN LEEDS
2/26/05 "Thanks for the CD. Fascinating, great stuff!!! Kudos!!
Here is an update on J.C. Davis......as irony would have it, just today
I discovered a newly issued vinyl LP compilation of some tracks he cut
and released on an indy Ohio label in 1969! The label has a brief bio;
He settled in Columbus, Ohio in the mid-60's, retiring from the road
after tours with Etta James and Linda Jones. There (in Columbus) he cut
2 indy singles for his own New Day label with his Ohio-based band in
May, 1969, the titles of which are: "A New Day (is Here at Last)",
"Circleville", "Coconut Brown" and "Buttered Popcorn." These and
several previously unissued tracks from the same sessions were recently
compiled and released on a vinyl LP A NEW DAY! THE COMPLETE MUS-I-COL
RECORDINGS OF J.C. DAVIS on the Cali-Tex label CT-103. The sidemen are
listed on the album but none are recognizeable "names"...probably just
local cats in Columbus at the time."
Best regards,
Alan Leeds
