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.
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:
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".
R.S. Ricketts (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.
(unpublished)
R.S. Ricketts (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.
(unpublished)
R.S. Ricketts (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.
(unpublished)
R.S. Ricketts (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.
(unpublished)
D. Bynum (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Dolly Bynum, Jackson, Miss.
(unpublished)
R.S. Ricketts (words)
William Houston Davis (music)
© Ruby Stroud Ricketts, Mount Olive, Miss.
(unpublished)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.
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© m Leon Daniel
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (music)
© w Elma Brown Monroe
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
Sadie Nordin Sallis (w&m)
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis
(unpublished)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© w & m Sadie Nordin Sallis
(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
(unpublished)
Diamond Record Co., employer for hire
of William Houston Davis
© Diamond Record Co.
(unpublished)
In E major
© Jackson Board of Realtors
(manuscript)
Houston Davis (w&m)
© Jackson Board of Realtors
W. Houston Davis (w&m)
© Ross R. Barnett
(unpublished)
Houston Davis (w&m)
© W.H. Davis
New matter: new words
(unpublished)
Joseph Patrick Manley (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Joseph Patrick Manley
(unpublished)
Marion J. LoPresto, Sr. (1919–1981) (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© Marion J. LoPresto, Sr., & Houston Davis
(unpublished)
Ed Baker (words)
William Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Ed Baker
(unpublished)
Joseph Patrick Manley (word)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Joseph Patrick Manley
(unpublished)
Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick
(unpublished)
Robert Tipp Deel (word)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Robert Tipp Deel
(unpublished)
Robert Tipp Deel (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Robert Tipp Deel
(unpublished)
Effie Price Garrett (words)
Sammy Graham & Houston Davis (music)
© Effie Price Garrett
(unpublished)
Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick
(unpublished)
Arlie S. Davis (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Arlie S. Davis
(unpublished)
Mrs. A. A. Kirkpatrick (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Mrs. A. A. KIrkpatrick
(unpublished)
Tom L. Spengler (w&m)
William Houston Davis (arrangement)
© Fielding L. Wright
(unpublished)
Grace Irene Provins & Tex Stanley (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Grace Irene Provins
(unpublished)
Carrie Goyette Murray (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Carrie Goyette Murray
(unpublished)
Robert Lane Almond (words)
Houston Davis & Sammy Graham (music)
© Robert Lane Almond
(unpublished)
Lola Davis Long (words)
Lola Davis Long, employer for hire of Houston Davis & Sammy Graham
© Lola Davis Long
(unpublished)
Hazel Christine Nordan (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© Hazel Christine Nordan
(unpublished)
Aline Marie Quarles (words)
William Houston Davis & Sammy Graham
© Aline Marie Quarles
(unpublished)
Florence Mandel (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© Florence Mandel
(unpublished)
Houston Davis (w&m)
© Houston Davis
(unpublished)
Grace Y. Ward (words)
Houston Davis (music)
2 p. © Grace Y. Ward
(unpublished)
Hilary Lewis (w&m)
Houston Davis (arrangement)
2 p. © Hilary C. Lewis
(unpublished)
Houston Davis,
Davis
(unpublished)
Note: H.R. 7152 is the Civil Right Act of 1964
Gertrude Seaborn (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© Gertrude Seaborn
(unpublished)
Ernest C. Rowell (words)
Houston Davis (music)
2 p. © Ernest C. Rowell
(unpublished)
William D. Waugh (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© William D. Waugh & Houston Davis
(unpublished)
Houston Davis (w&m)
© Houston Davis
(unpublished)
Note: Reference to LBJ
J.L. Carter (words), pseudonym of Hilary C. Lewis
Houston Davis (music)
© Hilary C. Lewis
(unpublished)
Houston Davis (w&m)
© Houston Davis
(unpublished)
Fred Maass, Jr. (words)
Houston Davis Productions, Inc. (music)
© Fred Maass, Jr.
(unpublished)
Eve Rene Corle (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© Eve Rene Corle
(unpublished)
John B. Skipper (words)
Houston Davis (music)
© John B. Skipper
(unpublished)
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.
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.
Governor Ross R. Barnett Campaign Souvenir: 1959 Campaign Songs
Jerry Lane Orchestra, Maurice Thompson Singers ₳
Houston Davis Productions, Inc.
133-657: Side 1
Jerry Lane Orchestra
Houston Davis (w&m)
133-656: Side 2
Houston Davis (w&m)
Maurice Thompson Singers ₳
Orchestra conducted by Jerry Lane ‡
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.