Roquel Billy Davis
Encyclopedia
Roquel "Billy" Davis of Detroit was an American
songwriter
, record producer
, and singer. Davis is best known as a songwriter for a number of soul music
ians label, and as a writer/producer of commercial
jingles, mostly for Coca-Cola
. He was also known as Tyran Carlo.
Early in his career, Davis worked with an early version of The Four Tops called "The Four Aims", which included his cousin Lawrence Payton
. In the late-1950s, he and collaborator Berry Gordy
wrote a number of hit songs for Jackie Wilson
. The most notable of these was "Lonely Teardrops", written by Davis, Gordy, and Gordy's sister Gwen
, who was Davis's girlfriend at the time. Davis and Gwen Gordy later founded the Anna record label
, which was the distributor of the early singles from Berry Gordy's Tamla (later Motown) label.
By the mid-1960s, Davis was in charge of the A&R
and creative departments at Chess Records
, supervising the in-house songwriters and producers. During this period, he wrote and produced for many artists, including Etta James
, The Dells
, Billy Stewart
, Jackie Ross
, and Fontella Bass
, whose 1965 "Rescue Me" was Davis' biggest hit.
Davis's success garnered him a position writing and producing jingles at the McCann-Erickson advertising agency
, where he eventually rose to Senior Vice-President and Music Director. While at McCann-Erickson, Davis's primary client was The Coca-Cola Company
, for which he produced the famous jingle "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)
", used in a 1971 Coca-Cola television
advertisement. He also produced other jingles such as "It's the Real Thing", "Things Go Better With Coke" and "Country Sunshine" for Coca-Cola, and "If You've Got the Time" for Miller Beer
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, and singer. Davis is best known as a songwriter for a number of soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
ians label, and as a writer/producer of commercial
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
jingles, mostly for Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
. He was also known as Tyran Carlo.
Early in his career, Davis worked with an early version of The Four Tops called "The Four Aims", which included his cousin Lawrence Payton
Lawrence Payton
Lawrence Albert Payton was an American tenor, songwriter and record producer for the popular Motown quartet, the Four Tops....
. In the late-1950s, he and collaborator Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
wrote a number of hit songs for Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson
Jack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
. The most notable of these was "Lonely Teardrops", written by Davis, Gordy, and Gordy's sister Gwen
Gwen Gordy Fuqua
Gwen Gordy Fuqua was the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy, sister of Motown songwriters Anna Gordy Gaye, Robert Gordy and George Gordy, sister of Motown Museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards, sister of Fuller Gordy and also Loucye Gordy, and the former wife of Harvey Fuqua...
, who was Davis's girlfriend at the time. Davis and Gwen Gordy later founded the Anna record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, which was the distributor of the early singles from Berry Gordy's Tamla (later Motown) label.
By the mid-1960s, Davis was in charge of the A&R
A&R
Artists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
and creative departments at Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
, supervising the in-house songwriters and producers. During this period, he wrote and produced for many artists, including Etta James
Etta James
Etta James is an American blues, soul, rhythm and blues , rock and roll, gospel and jazz singer. In the 1950s and 1960s, she had her biggest success as a blues and R&B singer...
, The Dells
The Dells
The Dells are an R&B and crossover musical group. Their successful recordings spanned more than four decades. Formed in 1952 after attending high school together, the Dells' repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul, disco and contemporary rhythm and blues...
, Billy Stewart
Billy Stewart
Billy Stewart was an American musical artist, with a highly distinctive scat-singing style, who enjoyed popularity in the 1960s.-Biography:...
, Jackie Ross
Jackie Ross
Jackie Ross is an American soul singer.Ross sang gospel music as a child, and performed on a radio show run by her parents, both preachers. After her father died in 1954 she moved to Chicago and was signed to SAR Records by Sam Cooke...
, and Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass
Fontella Bass is an American soul singer, who is best known for the 1965 R&B hit "Rescue Me", which she also co-wrote.-Early life:...
, whose 1965 "Rescue Me" was Davis' biggest hit.
Davis's success garnered him a position writing and producing jingles at the McCann-Erickson advertising agency
Advertising agency
An advertising agency or ad agency is a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients. An ad agency is independent from the client and provides an outside point of view to the effort of selling the client's products or services...
, where he eventually rose to Senior Vice-President and Music Director. While at McCann-Erickson, Davis's primary client was The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company is an American multinational beverage corporation and manufacturer, retailer and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and syrups. The company is best known for its flagship product Coca-Cola, invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Stith Pemberton in Columbus, Georgia...
, for which he produced the famous jingle "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)
I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing " is a popular song which originated as a jingle in the groundbreaking 1971 "Hilltop" television commercial for Coca-Cola. The song, produced by Billy Davis and performed by The New Seekers, portrayed a positive message of hope and love sung by a multicultural...
", used in a 1971 Coca-Cola television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
advertisement. He also produced other jingles such as "It's the Real Thing", "Things Go Better With Coke" and "Country Sunshine" for Coca-Cola, and "If You've Got the Time" for Miller Beer
Miller Brewing
The Miller Brewing Company is an American beer brewing company owned by the United Kingdom-based SABMiller. Its regional headquarters are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the company has brewing facilities in Albany, Georgia; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin; Eden, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas;...
.