Paul Davis

Biography

Paul Lavon Davis (April 21, 1948 – April 22, 2008) was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his radio hits and solo career that started worldwide in 1970. His career encompassed soul, country, and pop. His most successful songs are 1977's "I Go Crazy×I Go CrazyAugust 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAI Go Crazy3:37BReggae Kinda Way4:00", a No. 7 pop hit that once held the record for the longest chart run on the Billboard Hot 100, and 1982's "'65 Love Affair", which at No. 6 is his highest-charting single. Another pop hit, "Cool Night×Cool Night1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Cool Night3:41A2You Come to Me3:41A3One More Time for the Lonely4:11A4Nathan Jones3:29A5Oriental Eyes4:28B1’65 Love Affair3:56B2Somebody’s Gettin’ to You3:33B3Love or Let Me Be Lonely3:44B4What You Got to Say About Love3:55B5We’re Still Together3:37", was released in 1981. In the mid-1980s, he also had two No. 1 country hits as a guest vocalist on songs by Marie Osmond and Tanya Tucker.

Early life, family, and education

Davis was born in Meridian, Mississippi, US. His father was a preacher.

Career

Paul Davis was a member of a local music group, the Six Soul Survivors, around 1966 and later in another group, the Endless Chain. In 1968, he was a writer for Malaco Records, based in Jackson, Mississippi. Ilene Berns, widow of Bert Berns, signed Davis to Bang Records in 1969, and in 1970, released a cover version of the Jarmels' hit "A Little Bit of Soap", reaching No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. His first album, A Little Bit of Paul Davis×A Little Bit of Paul Davis1971 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1I Just Wanna Keep It Together2:302Supernatural Power2:373If I Wuz a Musician2:134Pollyanna2:375Sally’s Sayin Somethin2:096A Little Bit of Soap2:337Mississippi River3:078Who’s Gonna Love Me Tomorrow2:329Rainy Sunday Mornin2:4510Three Little Words2:3511When My Little Girl Is Smiling (mono)3:1312I Feel Better (mono)2:49, was released in 1970. In 1974, he recorded his third album, Ride 'Em Cowboy×Ride 'em Cowboy1974 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksARide 'em Cowboy3:52BI'm the Only Sinner (in Salt Lake City)3:47, and the title track, his first top 40 single, peaked at No. 23 on January 18, 1975. (The same song became a Top 40 Country hit for Juice Newton in 1984.) Davis also reached No. 35 in September 1976 with "Superstar", a tribute song not related to any of the 1971 hits by that name.
Davis had his first American Top 10 single with the ballad "I Go Crazy×I Go CrazyAugust 1977 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAI Go Crazy3:37BReggae Kinda Way4:00", which after 30 weeks on the Hot 100 peaked at No. 7 on March 18, 1978. "I Go Crazy" spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, which at the time set the record for most weeks on the chart. The follow-up, "Sweet Life", also did well, peaking at No. 17. On May 17, 1980, his gospel-tinged "Do Right" peaked at No. 23, and Casey Kasem noted the religious aspects of this song, along with other songs before it, on that day's edition of American Top 40. Davis was active on Bang Records when the label folded in the early 1980s.
After one more album on the Bang label, Davis signed with Arista Records in 1981 and scored two more hits, "Cool Night×Cool Night1981 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Cool Night3:41A2You Come to Me3:41A3One More Time for the Lonely4:11A4Nathan Jones3:29A5Oriental Eyes4:28B1’65 Love Affair3:56B2Somebody’s Gettin’ to You3:33B3Love or Let Me Be Lonely3:44B4What You Got to Say About Love3:55B5We’re Still Together3:37" (which in February 1982 reached No. 11 on the Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart) and "'65 Love Affair" (a Top 10 hit on both charts). "Cool Night" has been listed as an example of yacht rock, and his songs are kept in regular rotation on stations such as YachtRockinRadio.com. His Arista debut album spawned a third hit with a remake of "Love or Let Me Be Lonely". The single contained a third verse of music which was not included on the album version, and despite its Top 40 and AC success, had never been reissued on any CD release until Wounded Bird reissued the Best of Paul Davis compilation in 2011. Despite his success during this time frame, Davis grew increasingly disillusioned with the industry. Davis retired from making records in 1983, except for two duets that went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. The first was in 1986 with Marie Osmond singing "You're Still New to Me"; while the second, in 1988, was a collaboration with Tanya Tucker and Paul Overstreet singing "I Won't Take Less Than Your Love". Davis also wrote "Meet Me in Montana", which his friend Dan Seals and Osmond took to No. 1 on the Billboard country chart in 1985, and "Bop", a solo No. 1 country hit for Seals in early 1986. Davis left the music industry for good in 1988.

Personal life and death

Davis was married to Pamela Gayle Jay Davis, who enjoyed a brief career with Bang Records/Web IV Music in Atlanta, where Davis wrote and recorded his songs. When their only son, Jonathan, was born with developmental problems, Pamela retired from the music world to care for him. She died on March 20, 2017.
Davis was an avid golfer, and billiards enthusiast.
Davis survived a shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, on July 29, 1986. He was leaving a hotel on Music Row with a female companion when an unidentified man approached, demanded his wallet, and shot him in the abdomen.
Davis died of a heart attack at the Rush Foundation Hospital in his hometown of Meridian, Mississippi, on April 22, 2008, just 1 day after his 60th birthday.

Albums

(NOTE: There are at least 6 compilations not listed.)