Ray Davis (musician)

American bass singer

Raymond Davis (March 29, 1940 – July 5, 2005) was the original bass singer and one of the founding members of The Parliaments, and subsequently the bands Parliament, and Funkadelic, collectively known as P-Funk. His regular nickname while he was with those groups was "Sting Ray" Davis. Aside from George Clinton, he was the only original member of the Parliaments not to leave the Parliament-Funkadelic conglomerate in 1977. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Biography

He was born in Sumter, South Carolina to Julius and Carrie Bell (Pack) Davis, and worked with Roger Troutman and Zapp in the early to mid-1980s. His distinctive bass can be heard on "I Can Make You Dance," and "Do Wa Ditty." He was also briefly in a later period line-up of The Temptations, joining after the death of original bass singer Melvin Franklin,[1] and appearing on the 1995 album For Lovers Only. Davis left the group after being diagnosed with throat cancer. In later years, he performed with former Temptation Glenn Leonard in Leonard's group, The Temptations Experience. And in 1998, along with original Parliament-Funkadelic members Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Calvin Simon, and "Shady Grady" Thomas, he formed the Original P.

Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 5, 2005, at the age of 65, of respiratory problems.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ MacKenzie, A. (2009). The Life and Times of the Motown Stars. Together Publications LLP. ISBN 978-1-84226-014-2. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ray Davis". The Daily Telegraph. July 14, 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ray Davis, 65, Veteran Member of P-Funk, Is Dead". The New York Times. July 8, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

External links

  • Interview with Ray Davis
  • Ray Davis discography at Discogs
  • v
  • t
  • e
Parliament-Funkadelic
Parliament discographyFunkadelic discographyGeorge Clinton and
Parliament-FunkadelicBootsy CollinsEddie HazelThe Horny HornsBernie Worrell
The Brides of FunkensteinParletClarence "Fuzzy" Haskins
Ruth Copeland
Mutiny
Other spinoffs
Filmography
  • PCU
  • Parliament-Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove
  • George Clinton: The Mothership Connection
Related articles
Category
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Cover albums
Live albums
Other albums
Compilations
  • Greatest Hits
  • Greatest Hits II
  • Anthology
  • Emperors of Soul
  • The Ultimate Collection
  • My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations
  • Psychedelic Soul
Singles
(US/UK Top 10)
Related
  • Category
  • v
  • t
  • e
Parliament
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
Singles
Related
  • v
  • t
  • e
Singles
  • "Poor Willie"
  • "Lonely Island"
  • "Heart Trouble"
  • "(I Wanna) Testify"
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Live albums
  • Live: Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan – 12th September 1971
Compilation albums
  • Tales of Kidd Funkadelic
  • Music for Your Mother: Funkadelic 45s
  • Motor City Madness: The Ultimate Funkadelic Westbound Compilation
  • The Whole Funk & Nothing but the Funk: Definitive Funkadelic 1976–1981
  • Toys
Singles
Related
  • v
  • t
  • e
Performers
Early influences
Non-performers
(Ahmet Ertegun Award)
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • ISNI
  • VIAF
  • WorldCat
National
  • United States
  • Czech Republic
Artists
  • MusicBrainz


Stub icon 1 Stub icon 2

This article about a United States rhythm and blues singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e