Houston Davis Explained

Houston Davis
Birth Name:William Houston Davis
Birth Place:Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Birth Date:15 December 1914
Death Place:Jackson, Mississippi
Instrument:Drums
Genre:Big band jazz; popular music
Occupation:Composer, arranger, music educator, drummer
Years Active:1935–1962

Houston Davis (born William Houston Davis; December 15, 1914 – November 15, 1987) was an American composer, arranger, teacher of music, dance band drummer, and later in his career, a justice of the peace in Hinds County, Mississippi.

Career

Growing up and early career

As a child, Davis was born and raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. His father, Edward Samuel Davis (1874–1952) was a barber. Davis played snare drum in a community marching band in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. His father played bass horn. Davis went on to study music at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (his photo is in the university's 1935 yearbook). During college, Davis also led his own dance band. Northeastern's music faculty included Henri S. Minsky (1908–1980), a violinist who was director of bands.

Around 1936, Davis began playing drums with the Wally Stoefler Orchestra, and stayed with the group until about 1940. Stoefler's press releases often singled out Davis as "that famous Oklahoma drummer." At some point in his career, he then taught high school music and band.

Davis moved to Mississippi in 1942. In the latter 1950s, he wrote a number of political songs, but, was mostly composer and arranger for hire, as was advertised in a brochure published around 1960:

Songwriting career

Davis wrote campaign songs for Mississippi Governors Ross Barnett and Paul Johnson. He composed "Go, Mississippi", which, in 1962, became the official state song for Mississippi. He also composed country songs, such as "I'm Broke", "Girls Don't Wear Dresses Anymore", and "Crop Duster".

Non-music career

National recognition

Selected works

Sheet music

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

15 June 1947; EU80333

(unpublished)

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

15 June 1947; EU80332

(unpublished)

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

26 June 1947; EU81765

(unpublished)

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

15 January 1947; EU80334

(unpublished)

D. Bynum (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Dolly Bynum, Jackson, Miss.

23 March 1947; EU67985

(unpublished)

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

15 June 1947; EU80335

(unpublished)

James Vernal Fout & Houston Davis

Delta Records, Jackson, Mississippi

(custom recording)

R.S. Ricketts (words)

William Houston Davis (music)

© w&m Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.

October 1947; EU96063

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© m Leon Daniel

10 September 1947; EUJ92147

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (music)

© w Elma Brown Monroe

28 September 1947; EU95446

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

Sadie Nordin Sallis (w&m)

22 April 1949; EU164320

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis

25 March 1949; EUI61837

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis

25 March 1949; EUI61836

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis

25 February 1949; EU158212

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis

21 April 1949; EU164819

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis

25 March 1949; EUI61838

(unpublished)

William Houston Davis (music)

© w Ruby Stroud Ricketts

August 8, 1949; EU175503

(unpublished)

Sadie Nordin Sallis (words)

William Houston Davis & Jerry Lane (music)

© Sadie Nordin Sallis & William Houston Davis

July 17, 1950; EU209639

(unpublished)

Diamond Record Co., employer for hire

of William Houston Davis

© Diamond Record Co.

January 7, 1952; EU260399

(unpublished)

In E major

© Jackson Board of Realtors

September 17, 1962; EP167366

(manuscript)

Houston Davis (w&m)

© Jackson Board of Realtors

September 17, 1962; EP167366

W. Houston Davis (w&m)

© Ross R. Barnett

February 27, 1959; EU564630

(unpublished)

Houston Davis (w&m)

© W.H. Davis

New matter: new words

August 12, 1959; EU589029

(unpublished)

Joseph Patrick Manley (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Joseph Patrick Manley

29 March 1954; EU352629

(unpublished)

Marion J. LoPresto, Sr. (1919–1981) (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© Marion J. LoPresto, Sr., & Houston Davis

23 Febreuar 1954; EU348672

(unpublished)

Ed Baker (words)

William Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Ed Baker

23 February 1954; EU348497

(unpublished)

Joseph Patrick Manley (word)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Joseph Patrick Manley

29 March 1954; EU352630

(unpublished)

Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick

24 May 1954; EU359031

(unpublished)

Robert Tipp Deel (word)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Robert Tipp Deel

27 May 1954; EU359600

(unpublished)

Robert Tipp Deel (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Robert Tipp Deel

27 May 1954; EU359601

(unpublished)

Effie Price Garrett (words)

Sammy Graham & Houston Davis (music)

© Effie Price Garrett

8 November 1954l; EU376417

(unpublished)

Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick

30 December 1954; EU381296

(unpublished)

Arlie S. Davis (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Arlie S. Davis

6 December 1954; EU379205

(unpublished)

Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Mrs. A. A. KIrkpatrick

11 October 1954; EU375983

(unpublished)

Tom L. Spengler (w&m)

William Houston Davis (arrangement)

© Fielding L. Wright

20 May 1955; EU398027

(unpublished)

Grace Irene Provins & Tex Stanley (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Grace Irene Provins

25 May 1955; EU398839

(unpublished)

Carrie Goyette Murray (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Carrie Goyette Murray

4 April 1955; EU392381

(unpublished)

Robert Lane Almond (words)

Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)

© Robert Lane Almond

1 September 1955; EU408697

(unpublished)

Lola Davis Long (words)

Lola Davis Long, employer for hire of Houston Davis & Sammy Graham

© Lola Davis Long

2 November 1955; EU4l6388

(unpublished)

Hazel Christine Nordan (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© Hazel Christine Nordan

4 January 1956; EU421510

(unpublished)

Aline Marie Quarles (words)

William Houston Davis & Sammy Graham

© Aline Marie Quarles

26 October 1956; EU454674

(unpublished)

Florence Mandel (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© Florence Mandel

20 November 1964; EU854383

(unpublished)

Houston Davis (w&m)

© Houston Davis

6 October 1964; EU847101

(unpublished)

Grace Y. Ward (words)

Houston Davis (music)

2 p. © Grace Y. Ward

8 December 1964; EU857121

(unpublished)

Hilary Lewis (w&m)

Houston Davis (arrangement)

2 p. © Hilary C. Lewis

17 December 1964; EU858154

(unpublished)

Houston Davis,

Davis

13 July 1964; EU833962

(unpublished)

Note: H.R. 7152 is the Civil Right Act of 1964

Gertrude Seaborn (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© Gertrude Seaborn

16 July 1964; EU834988

(unpublished)

Ernest C. Rowell (words)

Houston Davis (music)

2 p. © Ernest C. Rowell

13 August 1964; EU838949

(unpublished)

William D. Waugh (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© William D. Waugh & Houston Davis

13 July 1964; EU833961

(unpublished)

Houston Davis (w&m)

© Houston Davis

3 September 1964; EU842366

(unpublished)

Note: Reference to LBJ

J.L. Carter (words), pseudonym of Hilary C. Lewis

Houston Davis (music)

© Hilary C. Lewis

6 November 1964; EU852324

(unpublished)

Houston Davis (w&m)

© Houston Davis

28 July 1964; EU836465

(unpublished)

Fred Maass, Jr. (words)

Houston Davis Productions, Inc. (music)

© Fred Maass, Jr.

2 October 1964; EU846530

(unpublished)

Eve Rene Corle (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© Eve Rene Corle

28 September 1964; EU846081

(unpublished)

John B. Skipper (words)

Houston Davis (music)

© John B. Skipper

13 November 1964; EU853297

(unpublished)

Brief biographies of song collaborators

Elmore James, Sonny Boy Williamson, Little Milton, and James Waller — all of these musical powerhouses furthered their recording careers at a little record company-label on once-thriving Farish Street, the historic black district of Jackson, Mississippi. These blues, gospel, and R&B all-stars are featured in Trumpet Records-Diamonds.

Disambiguation

Selected discography

Delta Recording Corp. recorded the original version of "Go, Mississippi" at its studio in Jackson, Mississippi, at 1653 Raymond Road. The label, which had an office in New York City in the early 1950s at 236 West 55th Street (Midtown Manhattan), was founded by Jim Bulleit (né James Albert Bulleit; 1908–1988) and Jimmie Ammons (né James Douglas Ammons; 1919–2001). Ammons's main occupation was that of a machinist in Jackson, Mississippi. Delta was noted for its custom recording work, which included recording weddings, church choirs, and college choirs. Delta also produced recordings for the foreign language department of Ole Miss. Delta also produced many jingles for numerous radio stations. Delta recorded radio stations all over Mississippi for ASCAP. When Mississippi was searching for a state song, Delta Recording Studio reportedly recorded all the state university bands in search of the song that would truly be representative of the state.

Original recording

Governor Ross R. Barnett Campaign Souvenir: 1959 Campaign Songs

Jerry Lane Orchestra, Maurice Thompson Singers ₳

Houston Davis Productions, Inc.

133-657: Side 1

  1. "Go, Mississippi" (© 1962)

    Jerry Lane Orchestra

    Houston Davis (w&m)

133-656: Side 2

  1. "Roll With Ross" (© 1959)

    (audio on YouTube)

    Houston Davis (w&m)

    Maurice Thompson Singers ₳

    Orchestra conducted by Jerry Lane ‡

  2. "Little Carrol's Last Stand" (© 1959) †

    (audio on YouTube)

    Houston Davis (w&m)

    Maurice Thompson Singers ₳

    Orchestra conducted by Jerry Lane


† The copyright for "Little Carrol's Last Stand" was previously registered as "The Battle of New Orleans." "Little Carrol's Last Stand" was a political campaign attack song by commissioned by Ross Barnett against Lieutenant Governor Carroll Gartin in 1959. Barnett defeated Gartin to become Governor of Mississippi from 1960 to 1964.

‡ Jerry Lane was a dance band leader and trombonist from Jackson, Mississippi. Former band members include Tom "Bones" Malone.

₳ The Maurice Thompson Singers were a small vocal ensemble from Jackson, Mississippi, founded and conducted by S. Maurice Thompson (1903–1973). Thompson, a radio broadcast pioneer, had moved to Jackson in 1935 to be an announcer at WJDX. In the 1960s, he was the station manager for WLBT.