Melvin Lee Davis

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.

Melvin Lee Davis
BornOrange County, California, U.S.
GenresR&B, jazz, funk, rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, music director
InstrumentsBass guitar, keyboards, piano
LabelsP-Vine
Associated actsChaka Khan, The Pointer Sisters, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight & the Pips
Websitewww.melvinleedavis.com

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)

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. Liebman, Jon (17 May 2010). "Melvin Lee Davis". For Bass Players Only. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  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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