Johnnie Davis
Encyclopedia
Johnnie Davis, also billed as Johnny Davis and Johnnie "Scat" Davis, (May 11, 1910 – November 28, 1983) was an American actor and singer.
Born John Gustave Davis in Brazil, Indiana
, 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, including theater orchestras in nearby Terre Haute, Indiana such as Paul Johnson's orchestra and the Leo Baxter Orchestra. Art Davis, his younger also worked for Baxter.
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, and his success during this time led him to Hollywood.
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 industry throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and spent several years in Detroit, Michigan
where he was a popular television performer. He eventually settled in Texas
, and died in Pecos
from a heart attack during a hunting trip.
Born John Gustave Davis in Brazil, Indiana
Brazil, Indiana
Brazil is a city in Clay County, Indiana, United States. The population was 7,912 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Clay County. It is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, 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, including theater orchestras in nearby Terre Haute, Indiana such as Paul Johnson's orchestra and the Leo Baxter Orchestra. Art Davis, his younger also worked for Baxter.
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
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
as a musician and vocalist, and his success during this time led him to Hollywood.
He appeared in his first film in 1937, and the same year appeared in the film Hollywood Hotel
Hollywood Hotel (film)
Hollywood Hotel is a 1937 American film, directed by Busby Berkeley. It stars Dick Powell, Rosemary Lane, Lola Lane, and Ted Healy. Ronald Reagan, Benny Goodman and Harry James also appear....
, where he introduced the Johnny Mercer
Johnny Mercer
John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer was an American lyricist, songwriter and singer. He is best known as a lyricist, but he also composed music. He was also a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as those written by others...
song "Hooray for Hollywood
Hooray for Hollywood (song)
"Hooray for Hollywood" is a song first featured in the 1937 movie Hollywood Hotel, and which has since become the staple soundtrack element of any Academy Awards ceremony. It is even frequently played during non-American movie ceremonies, e.g. the French César Awards...
". His lively rendition became popular and became closely associated with the film industry. He appeared in fifteen films including Cowboy from Brooklyn
Cowboy from Brooklyn
Cowboy from Brooklyn is a 1938 American musical comedy film starring Pat O'Brien, Dick Powell, Priscilla Lane, Ann Sheridan, and future US President Ronald Reagan.-Plot:...
(1938), Brother Rat
Brother Rat
Brother Rat is a 1938 film about cadets at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, directed by William Keighley and starring Priscilla Lane and Wayne Morris....
(1938), A Child is Born
A Child Is Born
A Child is Born is a poetic Christmas drama in one act by Stephen Vincent Benet. First presented on radio on December 21, 1942 as part of the anthology program Cavalcade of America, , the production starred the famous husband-and-wife team of Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne...
(1939) and Sarong Girl (1943).
Davis continued to work in the music industry throughout the 1940s and 1950s, and spent several years in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
where he was a popular television performer. He eventually settled in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and died in Pecos
Pecos, Texas
Pecos is the largest city in and the county seat of Reeves County, Texas, United States. It is situated in the river valley on the west bank of the Pecos River at the eastern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert and the Trans-Pecos region of west Texas and near the southern border of New Mexico...
from a heart attack during a hunting trip.