Southfielder Spotlight on Billy Davis

October 1, 2022

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When did you first pick up a guitar and learn to play?

In 1951, at the age of 13, I moved to Detroit, Michigan with my family where we lived in the predominantly black area of the city known as “Black Bottom.” I took guitar lessons from Bosie Gatlin, a blind guitarist who lived in my neighborhood at the time, who taught me how to play the Muddy Waters’ song “Baby, Please Don’t Go” when I was 16 years old. My first guitar was a Gibson Les Paul, Jr. that my mother purchased for me in 1954. After graduating from Miller High School in Detroit in 1957, I formed Billy Davis & The Upsetters, and we became Berry Gordy’s first in-house live band. I now play a special custom Purple Haze model made of rare purple wood from Madagascar that was designed and produced by Ron Counts in Oxford, Michigan.

How would you describe your personal guitar playing style or trademark?

I mostly play the blues, but with a country influence as much as R&B and Rock ‘N Roll. I became known for my energetic stage presence, which included spins, twirls and backflips while playing as well as playing my guitar with my teeth and behind my back. I also experimented with early guitar feedback and other techniques and tricks that were new and groundbreaking at the time.

You are credited with being Jimmy’s Hendrix’s first and most influential guitar teacher. What was it like to tutor this great guitar legend?

I first met Jimi Hendrix in 1959 while playing with Hank Ballard & The Midnighters in Seattle, Washington. He was just 16 at the time, and persistent to meet me backstage between shows even though I was reluctant. His persistence paid off and I agreed to see him and liked him right away. He had such a warm personality that I just took to him. To be honest, I didn’t see such great potential in him at the time, but he had such a great drive and desire to learn that I let him play my guitar and gave him some lessons. This was the first time that Hendrix had played an electric guitar and he took right to it. While I was in town in the next few weeks, I continued to go over to his house to teach him some of my most famous tricks which inspired his onstage presence and style. He soon began adopting the stage act that he became known for, including playing his guitar with his teeth and behind his back. I remained close friends with both Jimi and his father Al Hendrix throughout their lifetimes, and I’m very thankful to have played a small part in his great success.

You were among the first to be inducted into the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame in 2001, then the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 followed by the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015. There are very few artists that have been inducted into all three of these prestigious institutions. Can you tell us a little bit more about those great honors?

My love for music and performing is what has led me on this remarkable journey. I feel blessed and honored to have been in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. I’m thankful for the lifelong connections and bonds I’ve made which have enabled me to be a part of something greater than myself. It’s these personal and professional relationships with many extraordinary musicians that I have been associated that has opened up so many of these doors and accolades. My biggest break was being a part of and playing with Hank Ballard & The Midnighters for 30 years. We were the first group in history to have three records in the Top 40 all at the same time. It’s been a wonderful life and career for which I am truly thankful!

What can you tell us about playing lead guitar on Jackie Wilson’s huge hit Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher?

I fisrt met Jackie Wilson when I was 16 years old in 1954, only three years after moving up to Detroit, because my mother and his mother were good friends back in Mississippi. We became close friends and collaborated musically throughout our lives. This recording almost didn’t happen as the record company didn’t initially like the song, but in 1967 I played lead guitar on Jackie Wilson’s recording of Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and Higher and we also toured together. The song ultimately reached No. 1 in the U.S. Billboard R&B Chart and in November peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 No. 6. The song was ranked No. 246 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”

You’ve also been featured in films and documentaries; can you tell us a little bit about your experiences with that?

I appeared in the 1988 cult movie Tapeheads starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins as a member of the Swanky Modes Band, featuring Sam Moore (of Sam & Dave) and Junior Walker, along with Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell and Jim Keltner. It was a great experience and I enjoyed my time on set very much. I was also a featured musician in the documentary film, Paradise Boogie, released in 2018 chronicling the past, present and future of Detroit Blues.

You continue to mentor young musicians. Can you tell us a little about some of the upcoming artists you are currently working with?

I think it’s important to work with young and aspiring musicians to give back some of the mentoring and opportunities that were provided to me. Throughout my career, I’ve worked with a number of young artists from Jimi Hendrix to Mighty Michael Mendelson, a young man I met when he was just seven years old. I couldn’t believe the talent this young kid had at such an early age, and I’ve been working and performing with him ever since. He plays harmonica in a way that few can, and I see a very bright future for this young prodigy who is now 14 years old. He’s getting better every day and has already won many awards and nominations, including a 2018 Detroit Music Award nomination, a 2019 Detroit Black Music Award, a 2019 SPAH (Society for the Preservation & Advancement of Harmonica) Youth Scholarship in Tulsa, OK, and represented the USA in 2021. He is currently a 2022 SPAH Youth Scholar and has been awarded a 2022 Master Class Youth Scholarship by the Pinetop Perkins Foundation in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

What are some of the other artists or bands that you have worked with?

Throughout my career, I’ve had the honor to know and work with some of the greatest musicians on the planet from B.B. King to Smokey Robinson. I’ve also had the pleasure of working with James Brown, Sam Cooke, Chubby Checker, Barry Gordy and many other music legends. I was drafted into the Army in 1962 where I spent thirteen months serving in South Korea. After leaving the military in 1964, I moved to New York City and became a session guitarist, recording with many great artists such as the Isley Brothers, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Joe Tex, The Drifters, Ben E. King and Millie Jackson for record labels, such as Atlantic Records, Buddah Records and Polydor.

Do you have any other interesting stories that you would like to share about your time on the road touring and performing?

I have several, but one that stands out was in the fall of 1960, while I was on tour with The Midnighters and we were playing at Crump Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. We were backstage after a show in our dressing room when we heard loud banging on the door. We opened it up to find two Tennessee State Troopers standing there asking for us by name. Of course, we were shocked at first until they told us that they were there to escort us to Graceland Mansion at the request of Elvis Presley. He had just got home from the Army and wanted to meet us and attend his welcome home party. Hank Ballard was reluctant at first and only agreed to go when he saw that the rest of the band were going to go without him, so he went too. I’m certainly glad we all did though, because we had a great time and established a lifelong friendship with Elvis.

You continue to perform regularly with The Billy Davis Rhythm Machine Band. Can you tell us about your upcoming show at the Southfield Public Library on October 19?

I put together a band in 2003 to record some of my own songs and we continue to play pretty regularly. I’m very excited about our upcoming show on October 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Southfield Public Library as part of the Jazz & Blues @ Your Library concert series produced by the Friends of the Southfield Library. We’ve played at the Library before several years ago as part of this series and really enjoyed it. I’m proud to call Southfield my home and it’s always an honor and pleasure to play here. This show will be particularly special because we are performing as a tribute to Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson who recently passed away in June at the age of 100. He was a big fan of the Jazz & Blues Concert Series and attended them regularly. I invite everyone to join us before the concert at 6 p.m. for this special tribute to Lt. Col. Jefferson. Advanced tickets for the show are available for $8, and limited tickets will be available at the door for $7 general admission or $5 for Friends of the Southfield Public Library members. There will be no charge for children under 12 and tickets can be purchased online through the Southfield Public Library’s website at www.southfieldlibrary.org.

What do you like most about living in Southfield?

My parents first bought a house in Southfield back in 1981, and I moved to the City in 1996. I have stayed here ever since and I love it! I’ve never had any problems in Southfield and have nothing but respect for the Southfield Police and other city departments who have always treated me well. I love this community for all of the beautiful people and places that make it so great. The City of Southfield offers a great diversity of people and things to do which makes it a wonderful community to live in. I especially like the Southfield Public Library and all of the great resources, programs and events that they offer. Please come out and see us on October 19 and bring all the young people so that we might inspire this next generation of guitar greats from Southfield!

Do you know any fellow Southfielders that have a special skill, talent, hobby or other unique trait that would be of interest or inspiring to others? Are you that person? Send your suggested Southfielder Spotlight submissions to mmanion@cityofsouthfield.com. Include your name and contact information as well as the name, contact information and a short description of the person you are nominating. Self-submissions are also welcome and encouraged. Let us know what they (or you) do or have done that is interesting or unique.

Send your suggested Southfielder Spotlight submissions to mmanion@cityofsouthfield.com. Include your name and contact information as well as the name, contact information and a short description of the person you are nominating. Self-submissions are also welcome and encouraged. Let us know what they (or you) do or have done that is interesting or unique.