Monday, December 13, 2010

Johnnie "Scat" Davis

Johnnie Davis, also billed as Johnny Davis and Johnnie "Scat" Davis, (May 11, 1910 – November 28, 1983). Born into a family of musicians, Davis developed an interest in music during his childhood. He learned to play the trumpet and by the age of 13 was performing with his grandfather's band. After graduating from high school he worked as a musician for several orchestras such as: Paul Johnson's orchestra and the Leo Baxter Orchestra. By 1933 was living in New York City. He formed his own trio and recorded several songs with them. From the mid 1930s he worked with Fred Waring as a musician and vocalist.

He appeared in his first film in 1937, and the same year appeared in the film "Hollywood Hotel", where he introduced the Johnny Mercer song "Hooray for Hollywood". His lively rendition became popular and became closely associated with the film industry. He appeared in fifteen films including Cowboy from Brooklyn (1938), Brother Rat (1938), A Child is Born (1939) and Sarong Girl (1943).

Davis continued to work in the music industryin the 1940s and 1950s and was a popular television performer.

1 comment:

  1. I met the trombone man with the Davis band in Chicago during the mid 50s, but I forget his name, even though he lived in the apartment I shared with Chuck Hedges for a while.
    Any help?

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