Safronia B - Music

Maxwell Davis January 14 1916 – September 18 1970 Was An American R&B Saxophonist Arranger And Record Producer. Davis Was Born In Independence Kansas. In 1937 He Moved To Los Angeles California Playing Saxophone In The Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. After Some Years Playing Swing And Jazz He Became More Involved In The West Coast R&B Scene In The Mid 1940s Becoming A Regular Session Player And Arranger For The Fast Growing Independent Record Labels Such As Aladdin. He Also Recorded With The Jay McShann Band Featuring Blues Shouter Jimmy Witherspoon. By 1952 He Had Played On Numerous R&B Hits By Percy Mayfield Peppermint Harris Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown T-Bone Walker Amos Milburn And Others.
In 1955 He Joined Modern Records As Musical Director Bringing In Most Of The Artists On Modern And Aladdin And Producing Most Of Their Records. Although His Success Rate Started To Diminish Thereafter He Became Regarded As An Elder Statesman And "the Father Of West Coast R&B".
"Maxwell Davis Is An Unsung Hero Of Early Rhythm And Blues " Noted Songwriter/producer Mike Stoller. "He Produced In Effect All Of The Record Sessions For Aladdin Records Modern Records All The Local Independent Rhythm And Blues Companies In The Early 1950s Late 1940s In Los Angeles."
His Final Recording Activity Was In 1969 As The Producer Of The Soul Singer Z. Z. Hill. Davis Died In Los Angeles At The Age Of 54 In September 1970. read less