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  sea (sea) 1-Arriviste Username: sea Post Number: 1 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Carl Davis....I've noticed this name associated with many artists as producer and/or writer. Does anyone have more background on him and where is he now? | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 1-Arriviste Username: dvdmike Post Number: 5 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.208.234.61 |
Carl Davis is probably the top soul producer out of Chicago. His first production, "Duke Of Earl" by Gene Chandler sold two million copies. He was still working with Gene into the '80s. He ran the Chicago office for the CBS distributed Okeh label and later Nat Tarnopol made him head of Brunswick's Chicago office. And in the '70s, he founded Chi-Sound Records. Through the years, he produced hits on artists such as Major Lance, The Artistics, The Vibrations, Walter Jackson, Mary Wells (post-Motown), Jackie Wilson, The Chi-Lites, Barbara Acklin and Tyrone Davis. He isn't as active in the industry as he once was, but he is still a figure in Chicago soul. He resides in the south Chicago suburb of Flossmoor. Kev-Go can tell you much more about Mr. Davis as he has a more personal relationship with him. | ||
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 1-Arriviste Username: kevgo Post Number: 6 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.115.26.80 |
Sea: DVDMike pretty much nailed Carl's career in a nutshell. I'll gladly fill in some of the blanks here. Carl started his career in the "tip-sheet" biz - compiling record charts for legendary Chicago radio man Al Benson. This led to Carl being hired as a sales/promotion rep for Columbia Records in 1961. At the same time, Carl started doing independent record production & managing talent that resulted in Gene Chandler's "Duke Of Earl" (Carl came up with Gene's name - Chandler was the last name of Carl's favorite actor Jeff Chandler). When Columbia caught wind of Carl's production of "Duke" the label promoted him to staff producer in 1962. Walter Jackson was one of the first acts Carl signed to the label. When it was apparent that Chicago-based soul music was sucesssful (thank you, Curtis Mayfield!), Columbia reactivated the Okeh label and placed Carl in charge of the Chicago office. He then hired Curtis to compose and co-produce the acts. A wise move - Major Lance "Monkey Time" and "Um Um Um Um Um Um", Walter Jackson's "It's All Over", Billy Butler's "Nevertheless (I Love You)" and as well as the Vibrations version of "Misty" all hit the charts like crazy. While all this activity was happening, Carl was "moonlighting" at Constellation Records producing Gene Chandler's work. While Gene did enjoy some hits ("Just Be True" & "God Bless Our Love") this move proved detrimental for Carl when the CBS brass found out & forced him to resign in 1966. Carl wasn't down & out for long - he formed Jalynne Productions (named after his daughters)and became an independent producer. During this time he produced Mary Wells'"Dear Lover". Enter Nat Tarnopol & Brunswick Records - Carl met Nat at a DJ convention and was hired to put Jackie Wilson back on the charts. Carl in turn hired former Motowner William "Sonny" Sanders as staff arranger & studio man Gerald Sims to lead the sessions. By October 1966, Jackie came roaring back with "Whispers (Getting Louder)", a tune co-written by Carl's secretary (and future Brunswick act) Barbara Acklin. The Artistics came over to Brunswick from Okeh with "I'm Gonna Miss You". Young-Holt Unlimited ditched Ramsey Lewis and came up with "Wack Wack" and Gene Chandler hit with "The Girl Don't Care". Carl was hired as A&R chief of Brunswick by 1967. In 1968 Carl formed Dakar Records (DAvis KARl)to give more Chicago-based talent a label to record for and help the session guys earn salaries. Tyrone Davis came on board with two million selling smashes "Can I Change My Mind" and "Turn Back The Hands Of Time". Other acts later joined Dakar such as the talented (and sadly missed) Otis Leavill, Sidney Joe Qualls and Hamilton Bohannon. Meanwhile at Brunswick the Chi-lites joined the label and Carl discovered the songwriting/production talents of group lead singer Eugene Record, who became Carl's assistant A&R director. Eugene & Carl did write songs together - "Give It Away", "The Coldest Days Of My Life" & "Love Makes A Woman" (with William "Sonny" Sanders & Gerald Sims) to name a few. By late 1970 Brunswick became an independent label and Nat promoted Carl to Vice President of the company (he also bought out Dakar Records). For five years (1970-75) Carl oversaw many hits being made. After Brunswick hit legal problems with taxes and fraud (charges that were later dropped) in 1975, Carl left the company and formed two labels - Innovation II and Chi-Sound. The Chi-lites, Walter Jackson & Gene Chandler recorded for Chi-Sound while the Lost Generation & Major Lance cut a few sides for Innovation II. Carl ran both labels until 1980, when Chi-Sound's distributor 20th Century Fox was bought out by PolyGram and the latter weren't interested in carrying Carl's label. Carl formed Kelli-Arts Records (named after another daughter!) and continued to record Walter Jackson & Parris but without major distribution it was difficult to compete. Carl shut down the label by 1985. Today, Carl lives in the suburb of Homewood (right outside of Chicago) and is happily enjoying his retirement spending time with his young grandchildren. I do speak to him almost every month so I will let him know that folks asked about him. Regards, Kevin Goins - KevGo | ||
sea (sea) 1-Arriviste Username: sea Post Number: 2 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.166 |
DVDMike KevGo Thank you both for the detailed information. I had no idea Carl Davis had such an impact on the various artists as well as the record business itself. So glad this was documented so I can re-read and digest all of this valuable information. sea | ||
David Meikle (david_meikle) 1-Arriviste Username: david_meikle Post Number: 38 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 62.252.128.10 |
Really nice tribute KevGo. Many thanks David | ||
Kevin Goins - KevGo (kevgo) 1-Arriviste Username: kevgo Post Number: 13 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.115.26.80 |
David & Sea: My pleasure. By the way Carl Davis also had the Bashie label at the same time he founded Dakar (Bashie was his wife's maiden name). Wales Wallace recorded "We're Not Happy" (written & produced by Eugene Record) for the label. Kevin Goins - KevGo | ||
mike s (mike_s) 1-Arriviste Username: mike_s Post Number: 4 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10 |
Nice going Kevin Pls tell Carl we really appreciate the great work he did over a long period of time, as a writer producer and exec...as well as developer of talent. I always felt he was a pioneer in many respects as he went out there on his own and took on the majors. Trust he is fine in retirement as I recall reading some time that the Brunswick payola case and label closure cost him. |
