Rainy Davis
Encyclopedia
Denise Lorraine Davis better known by her stage name
Rainy Davis, is an American R&B songwriter
, singer, and record producer
. Out of four Billboard
charted singles, Davis is known best for her song "Sweetheart
". A generation of fans adopted the song as their anthem to romantic love, giving it a permanent and powerful place in their collective psyche. The single was originally released on the New York-based independent label called Supertronics Records. However, after the song became a hit in the clubs, then on urban radio and eventually crossing over to pop radio, Columbia Records
A&R Exec Joe McEwen offered Rainy Davis an attractive production / artist deal which included buying Rainy's previous contract & masters outright with Supertronics (her then current label) for worldwide distribution. Rainy Davis went on to record two albums for Columbi and has received numerous awards for her contributions to hit songs over the years.
, New York. Even before be famous, Davis was paying her dues. She was singing with a local band called Jamilia (with band members Keith Sweat
, Charisse Davis until she joined the female singing group created and produced by Patrick Adams - Musique
, who garnered the club pop hits "In The Bush" and "Keep On Jumpin".
After a few weeks of rehearsals with their new band, Musique was out on the road and Rainy Davis was a live performance member of the female trio group Musique with Becky Bell
and Marisa Dejean. Rainy was now on her first tour as a member of a group with two songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Disco Action Charts and then crossing over to a pop hit record. The tour was booked throughout North America by the Norby Walters Agency.
Columbia Records dubbed Rainy Davis "America's Sweetheart" then sent Davis on a national tour to support her debut album. The tour included an appearance on Don Cornelius
' TV show Soul Train
and a performance at the world famous Apollo Theatre
in Harlem
, New York. Davis was also a presenter at the Rhythm & Blues awards at Bally's in Las Vegas. Rainy Davis remains a creative force in the music industry. Her publishing company, RainySongs, is a member of ASCAP. She holds interests as a songwriter and music publisher in recordings by Mariah Carey
, Jermaine Dupri
, The Cover Girls
, Inner Life
, Apollo 440
and Rainy Davis.
At the request of Amir Bayyan, (personal friend of the Jacksons), Rainy Davis wrote "Sweetheart
" with producer Pete Warner for Janet Jackson
. When the demo was finished all the songs for her 1986 album Control
, had been chosen. Amir Bayyan, Christine Bayyan and Chris Lord Alge suggested to Davis that she release the song herself, and as a result it became a major hit in the dance and club scene and on urban & pop radio.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Rainy Davis, is an American R&B songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, singer, and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. Out of four Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charted singles, Davis is known best for her song "Sweetheart
Sweetheart (song)
"Sweetheart" is a song written by Rainy Davis and Pete Warner and originally recorded by Davis, which appeared on her eponymous debut album. The song reached number 24 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1986...
". A generation of fans adopted the song as their anthem to romantic love, giving it a permanent and powerful place in their collective psyche. The single was originally released on the New York-based independent label called Supertronics Records. However, after the song became a hit in the clubs, then on urban radio and eventually crossing over to pop radio, Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
A&R Exec Joe McEwen offered Rainy Davis an attractive production / artist deal which included buying Rainy's previous contract & masters outright with Supertronics (her then current label) for worldwide distribution. Rainy Davis went on to record two albums for Columbi and has received numerous awards for her contributions to hit songs over the years.
Biography
Davis was born and growed in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York. Even before be famous, Davis was paying her dues. She was singing with a local band called Jamilia (with band members Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality and a major contributor to the new jack swing era.-Music career:...
, Charisse Davis until she joined the female singing group created and produced by Patrick Adams - Musique
Musique (Patrick Adams)
Musique was a studio project by Patrick Adams, best known for the song, "In the Bush". It consisted of five singers, Christine Wiltshire, Angela Howell, Gina Taylor Pickens, Mary Seymour Williams and Jocelyn Brown.-Career:...
, who garnered the club pop hits "In The Bush" and "Keep On Jumpin".
After a few weeks of rehearsals with their new band, Musique was out on the road and Rainy Davis was a live performance member of the female trio group Musique with Becky Bell
Becky Bell
Rebecca "Becky" Suzanne Bell was an American teenage girl who died as a result of a back-alley abortion in 1988. She lived in Indianapolis, Indiana....
and Marisa Dejean. Rainy was now on her first tour as a member of a group with two songs that hit #1 on the Billboard Disco Action Charts and then crossing over to a pop hit record. The tour was booked throughout North America by the Norby Walters Agency.
Columbia Records dubbed Rainy Davis "America's Sweetheart" then sent Davis on a national tour to support her debut album. The tour included an appearance on Don Cornelius
Don Cornelius
Donald Cortez "Don" Cornelius is an American television show host and producer who is best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance/music franchise Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971-1993...
' TV show Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
and a performance at the world famous Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York. Davis was also a presenter at the Rhythm & Blues awards at Bally's in Las Vegas. Rainy Davis remains a creative force in the music industry. Her publishing company, RainySongs, is a member of ASCAP. She holds interests as a songwriter and music publisher in recordings by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
, Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri
Jermaine Dupri Mauldin , known as Jermaine Dupri or JD, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper.- Early life and career :...
, The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls
The Cover Girls is a New York City-based freestyle-urban-dance-pop girl group that achieved the majority of its chart success in the late 1980s and early 1990s...
, Inner Life
Inner Life
Inner Life was an American R&B/soul studio project of the post-disco era that enjoyed success with "I'm Caught Up " and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" . Both tracks featured the vocals of Jocelyn Brown and Leroy Burgess...
, Apollo 440
Apollo 440
Apollo 440 are an English band formed in Liverpool in 1990. Apollo 440 have written, recorded and produced four albums, collaborated with and produced other artists, remixed as Apollo 440 and as ambient cinematic alter-ego Stealth Sonic Orchestra, and created music for film, television,...
and Rainy Davis.
At the request of Amir Bayyan, (personal friend of the Jacksons), Rainy Davis wrote "Sweetheart
Sweetheart (song)
"Sweetheart" is a song written by Rainy Davis and Pete Warner and originally recorded by Davis, which appeared on her eponymous debut album. The song reached number 24 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1986...
" with producer Pete Warner for Janet Jackson
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson is an American recording artist and actress. Known for a series of sonically innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows, television and film roles, she has been a prominent figure in popular culture for over 25 years...
. When the demo was finished all the songs for her 1986 album Control
Control (Janet Jackson album)
Control is the third studio album by American recording artist Janet Jackson, released on February 6, 1986 by A&M Records. Her collaborations with songwriters and record producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis resulted in an unconventional sound: a fusion of rhythm and blues, funk, disco, rap vocals,...
, had been chosen. Amir Bayyan, Christine Bayyan and Chris Lord Alge suggested to Davis that she release the song herself, and as a result it became a major hit in the dance and club scene and on urban & pop radio.
Singles
| Year | Title | US R&B chart Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | "Sweetheart" | 24 |
| 1987 | "Lowdown So & So" | 14 |
| 1987 | "Still Waiting" | 41 |
| 1988 | "Indian Giver" | 41 |