Tyrone Davis
Encyclopedia
Tyrone Davis born Tyrone Fettson, was a leading American
soul
singer
with a distinctive style, recording a long list of hit record
s over a period of more than 20 years. He had three no. 1 hits on the Billboard
R&B chart: "Can I Change My Mind
" (1968), ""Turn Back The Hands Of Time
"" (1970), and "Turning Point
" (1975).
, Mississippi
to Willie Branch and Ora Lee Jones. He moved with his father to Saginaw
, Michigan
, before relocating to Chicago
in 1959.
Working as a valet/chauffeur for blues
singer Freddie King
, he started singing in local clubs
where he was discovered by record executive/musician Harold Burrage. His early records
for small record label
s in the city, billed as "Tyrone the Wonder Boy", failed to register. Successful Chicago record producer
Carl Davis
signed him in 1968 to a new label, Dakar Records
that he was starting as part of a distribution deal with Atlantic
, and suggested that he use the stage name Tyrone Davis. His first release, "A Woman Needs To Be Loved" was flipped when the b-side
started to get radio
attention. The song, "Can I Change My Mind" featured a change of vocal style for Davis with a softer, more pleading approach and tone. The record now shot up the listings and spent three weeks on the top of the Billboard
R&B
chart
while climbing to #5 in the Hot 100
. It sold over one million and received gold disc recognition. His biggest hit came in early 1970 when "Turn Back The Hands Of Time
" also reached #1 in the R&B chart and went up to #3 in the Hot 100 pop
chart. Written
by Jack Daniels and Bonnie Thompson, this disc
also sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc
awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
in May 1970.
Davis released about 25 singles during his seven years with Dakar, most of them big R&B sellers produced by Willie Henderson. He finally returned to the top spot with "Turning Point" in 1975. Soon afterwards, Davis switched to the major Columbia
record label
and recorded seven albums over the next five years with producer Leo Graham and arranger James Mack who had collaborated with him for "Turning Point". Major hits with Columbia included "Give It Up" (#2), "This I Swear" (#6), and "In The Mood" (#6).
1982 brought a change of label to the newly-established independent, Highrise and another major hit, "Are You Serious" (#3 R&B, #57 pop), again produced by Leo Graham, and written
by L.V. Johnson
. When Highrise closed the following year, Davis switched to a tiny Los Angeles
label Ocean Front which lacked promotional muscle to get behind arguably one of his best performances, "Let Me Be Your Pacifier". Davis' days as a major chart act were over but he continued to be a popular live attraction and finally signed in 1996 with Malaco Records
, the southern-based blues label recording him on a number of albums.
A stroke
in September 2004 curtailed his career, and following complications he died
in a Chicago hospital
in February 2005 at the age of 66. He left a widow, Ann, to whom he had been married for over 40 years, and several children and grandchildren.
His younger sister
, Jean Davis, was a member of the group, Facts of Life
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
with a distinctive style, recording a long list of hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s over a period of more than 20 years. He had three no. 1 hits on the 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...
R&B chart: "Can I Change My Mind
Can I Change My Mind
"Can I Change My Mind" is a 1968 single recorded by soul singer Tyrone Davis. It was his featured debut and in early 1969 replaced Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It through the Grapevine" to become the number-one song on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.....
" (1968), ""Turn Back The Hands Of Time
Turn Back the Hands of Time (song)
"Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Tyrone Davis. The song was co-written by Jack Daniels and Bonnie Thompson and produced by Willie Henderson. Daniels and Thompson wrote "Turn Back the Hands of Time" based on the relationship problems that Daniels was having at...
"" (1970), and "Turning Point
Turning Point (Tyrone Davis song)
"Turning Point" is a hit song by R&B singer Tyrone Davis. Released from the 1976 album of the same title, it spent a week at number one on the R&B singles chart in February of that year, however did not chart on the Hot 100 and holds the distinction of being the first number one soul single to...
" (1975).
Career
Tyrone Fettson was born in a rural community twenty miles outside of GreenvilleGreenville, Mississippi
Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 48,633 at the 2000 census, but according to the 2009 census bureau estimates, it has since declined to 42,764, making it the eighth-largest city in the state. It is the county seat of Washington...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
to Willie Branch and Ora Lee Jones. He moved with his father to Saginaw
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, before relocating to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1959.
Working as a valet/chauffeur for blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
, he started singing in local clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
where he was discovered by record executive/musician Harold Burrage. His early records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
for small record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s in the city, billed as "Tyrone the Wonder Boy", failed to register. Successful Chicago 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...
Carl Davis
Carl Davis (record producer)
Carl H. Davis is an American record producer and music executive, who was particularly active in Chicago in the 1960s and 1970s when he was responsible for hit R&B records by Gene Chandler, Major Lance, Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin, Tyrone Davis and others.-Life and career:He was...
signed him in 1968 to a new label, Dakar Records
Dakar Records
Dakar Records was a record label started by Carl Davis in 1967, while employed at Brunswick Records. The label was initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary Cotillion Records, and was based in Chicago. All releases after late 1971 were distributed by Brunswick Records.Notable artists on...
that he was starting as part of a distribution deal with Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, and suggested that he use the stage name Tyrone Davis. His first release, "A Woman Needs To Be Loved" was flipped when the b-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
started to get radio
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
attention. The song, "Can I Change My Mind" featured a change of vocal style for Davis with a softer, more pleading approach and tone. The record now shot up the listings and spent three weeks on the top of the 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...
R&B
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,...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
while climbing to #5 in the Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. It sold over one million and received gold disc recognition. His biggest hit came in early 1970 when "Turn Back The Hands Of Time
Turn Back the Hands of Time (song)
"Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Tyrone Davis. The song was co-written by Jack Daniels and Bonnie Thompson and produced by Willie Henderson. Daniels and Thompson wrote "Turn Back the Hands of Time" based on the relationship problems that Daniels was having at...
" also reached #1 in the R&B chart and went up to #3 in the Hot 100 pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
chart. Written
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...
by Jack Daniels and Bonnie Thompson, this disc
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
also sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
awarded by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
in May 1970.
Davis released about 25 singles during his seven years with Dakar, most of them big R&B sellers produced by Willie Henderson. He finally returned to the top spot with "Turning Point" in 1975. Soon afterwards, Davis switched to the major Columbia
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...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
and recorded seven albums over the next five years with producer Leo Graham and arranger James Mack who had collaborated with him for "Turning Point". Major hits with Columbia included "Give It Up" (#2), "This I Swear" (#6), and "In The Mood" (#6).
1982 brought a change of label to the newly-established independent, Highrise and another major hit, "Are You Serious" (#3 R&B, #57 pop), again produced by Leo Graham, and written
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...
by L.V. Johnson
L.V. Johnson
L.V. Johnson was an American Chicago blues and soul-blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best known for his renditions of "Don't Cha Mess With My Money, My Honey Or My Woman" and "Recipe"...
. When Highrise closed the following year, Davis switched to a tiny Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
label Ocean Front which lacked promotional muscle to get behind arguably one of his best performances, "Let Me Be Your Pacifier". Davis' days as a major chart act were over but he continued to be a popular live attraction and finally signed in 1996 with Malaco Records
Malaco Records
Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
, the southern-based blues label recording him on a number of albums.
A stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in September 2004 curtailed his career, and following complications he died
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
in a Chicago hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
in February 2005 at the age of 66. He left a widow, Ann, to whom he had been married for over 40 years, and several children and grandchildren.
His younger sister
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
, Jean Davis, was a member of the group, Facts of Life
Facts of Life (band)
Facts of Life was an American soul/disco group formed by producer Millie Jackson, whose members were Jean Davis , Keith Williams, and Chuck Carter. They signed to independent label Kayvette Records, and a single, "Caught in the Middle", got airplay on Southern US radio stations but did not chart...
.
Chart singles
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Pop Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B 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,... |
|||
| 1968 | "Can I Change My Mind Can I Change My Mind "Can I Change My Mind" is a 1968 single recorded by soul singer Tyrone Davis. It was his featured debut and in early 1969 replaced Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It through the Grapevine" to become the number-one song on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart..... " |
5 | 1 | Dakar Dakar Records Dakar Records was a record label started by Carl Davis in 1967, while employed at Brunswick Records. The label was initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary Cotillion Records, and was based in Chicago. All releases after late 1971 were distributed by Brunswick Records.Notable artists on... |
| 1969 | "Is It Something You've Got" | 34 | 5 | |
| 1970 | "Turn Back The Hands Of Time Turn Back the Hands of Time (song) "Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song recorded by American R&B singer Tyrone Davis. The song was co-written by Jack Daniels and Bonnie Thompson and produced by Willie Henderson. Daniels and Thompson wrote "Turn Back the Hands of Time" based on the relationship problems that Daniels was having at... " |
3 | 1 | |
| "I'll Be Right Here" | 53 | 8 | ||
| "Let Me Back In" | 58 | 12 | ||
| 1971 | "Could I Forget You" | 60 | 10 | |
| "One-Way Ticket" | 75 | 18 | ||
| "You Keep Me Holding On" | 94 | 15 | ||
| 1972 | "I Had It All The Time" | 61 | 5 | |
| "Was I Just A Fool" | - | 26 | ||
| "If You Had A Change In Mind" | 107 | 28 | ||
| 1973 | "Without You In My Life" | 64 | 5 | |
| "There It Is" | 32 | 9 | ||
| "Wrapped Up In Your Warm And Tender Love" | - | 19 | ||
| 1974 | "I Wish It Was Me" | 57 | 11 | |
| "What Goes Up (Must Come Down)" | 89 | 11 | ||
| "Happiness Is Being With You" | - | 27 | ||
| "I Can't Make It Without You" | - | 38 | ||
| 1975 | "Homewreckers" | - | 36 | |
| "A Woman Needs To Be Loved" | - | 38 | ||
| "Turning Point Turning Point (Tyrone Davis song) "Turning Point" is a hit song by R&B singer Tyrone Davis. Released from the 1976 album of the same title, it spent a week at number one on the R&B singles chart in February of that year, however did not chart on the Hot 100 and holds the distinction of being the first number one soul single to... " |
- | 1 | ||
| 1976 | "So Good (To Be Home With You)" | - | 9 | |
| "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)" | 38 | 2 | Columbia 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... |
|
| "Ever Lovin' Girl" | - | 39 | Dakar | |
| 1977 | "Close To You" | - | 33 | Columbia |
| "This I Swear" | 102 | 6 | ||
| "All You Got" | - | 32 | ||
| 1978 | "Get On Up (Disco)" | 102 | 12 | |
| "Can't Help But Say" | - | 65 | ||
| 1979 | "In The Mood" | - | 6 | |
| "Ain't Nothing I Can Do" | - | 72 | ||
| "Be With Me" | - | 37 | ||
| 1980 | "Can't You Tell It's Me" | - | 58 | |
| "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) "How Sweet It Is " is a 1964 hit song written and produced by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was originally recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye and became one of his most popular songs... " |
- | 36 | ||
| 1981 | "Just My Luck" | - | 62 | |
| 1982 | "Are You Serious" | 57 | 3 | Highrise |
| 1983 | "A Little Bit Of Loving (Goes A Long Way)" | - | 49 | |
| "I Found Myself When I Lost You" | - | 38 | Ocean Front | |
| 1984 | "Let Me Be Your Pacifier" | - | 33 | |
| 1987 | "I'm In Love Again" | - | 84 | Future |
| 1988 | "Do You Feel It" | - | 54 | |
| "It's A Miracle" | - | 32 | ||
| "Flashin' Back" | - | 61 | ||
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||||
| 1969 | Can I Change My Mind | 146 | 12 | Dakar Dakar Records Dakar Records was a record label started by Carl Davis in 1967, while employed at Brunswick Records. The label was initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary Cotillion Records, and was based in Chicago. All releases after late 1971 were distributed by Brunswick Records.Notable artists on... |
||
| 1970 | Turn Back the Hands of Time | 90 | 9 | |||
| 1972 | I Had It All the Time | 182 | 42 | |||
| 1973 | Without You in My Life | 174 | 24 | |||
| 1974 | It's All in the Game | — | 28 | |||
| 1975 | Home Wrecker | — | 55 | |||
| 1976 | Turning Point! | — | 10 | |||
| Love and Touch | 89 | 12 | Columbia 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... |
|||
| 1977 | Let's Be Closer Together | — | 17 | |||
| 1978 | I Can't Go On This Way | — | 18 | |||
| 1979 | In the Mood with Tyrone Davis | 115 | 9 | |||
| Can't You Tell It's Me | — | 40 | ||||
| 1980 | I Just Can't Keep on Going | — | 39 | |||
| 1981 | Everything in Place | — | — | |||
| 1982 | Tyrone Davis | 137 | 10 | Highrise | ||
| 1983 | Something Good | — | 46 | Ocean-Front | ||
| 1985 | Sexy Thing | — | — | Future | ||
| 1987 | Man of Stone | — | — | |||
| 1988 | Flashin' Back | — | 37 | |||
| 1990 | Come on Over | — | — | |||
| 1991 | I'll Always Love You | — | 39 | Ichiban | ||
| 1992 | Something's Mighty Wrong | — | 53 | |||
| 1994 | You Stay On My Mind | — | — | |||
| 1994 | For The Good Times | — | 88 | Life | ||
| 1996 | Simply | — | 85 | Malaco Malaco Records Malaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the... |
||
| 1997 | Pleasing You | — | — | |||
| 1999 | Call Tyrone | — | 85 | |||
| 2000 | Relaxin' with Tyrone | — | 92 | |||
| 2002 | Love Line | — | — | |||
| 2003 | Come To Daddy | — | 94 | Future | ||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||||