Nashville Brass Front Man Danny Davis Dies

Did you know that Waylon Jennings' first Grammy award was for "MacArthur Park?"

Yes, that "MacArthur Park," the sweet green icing left in the rain causing a guy to have a meltdown because he lost the recipe song that has been voted one of the worst songs in pop music history. In 1969, Jennings recorded the song with a group called the Kimberlys. This song was written by Jimmy Webb and a pop hit for Richard Harris. Given that Glen Campbell was enjoying success with a string of hits written by Jimmy Webb (e.g., "Galvaston," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman"), it didn't seem like such a bad idea.

If legend is to be believed, Jennings did think it was a bad idea. During the session, Jennings in frustration over the song pulled a gun on his producer.

This is mentioned because that song's producer, Danny Davis, has died.

(For the record, Jennings denied that he pulled a gun on Davis over the recording of the song.)

Danny Davis stuck out in country music like a sore thumb. He was a Yankee (from Dorchester, Massachusetts) who had spent his teen years at the New England Conservatory of Music and in the jazz band of Gene Krupa. A master trumpet player, by the time he was 30 he had played with Art Mooney (of "I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover" fame), Bob Crosby, Les Brown, and Merv Griffin. In addition, he sang with the big bands of Sammy Kaye and Vincent Lopez. He also won the Arthur Godfrey Talent Show three times.

In the mid-50s, as big band got lost in the rock and roll shuffle, Davis went behind the recording studio glass as a producer. He found success at MGM Records with Connie Francis, producing six #1 hits for her during her heyday. He also convinced MGM to sign Herman's Hermits to a record deal.

Davis (ne George Joseph Nowlan) moved to Nashville in the early 60s and began working as a country producer. He produced the aforementioned Waylon Jennings performance as well as the Dottie West/Don Gibson collaboration "Rings of Gold." He also began to vocalize an idea of having a brass band perform country songs. Chet Atkins, producer #1 at RCA and a man who had released several albums of instrumental versions of country songs, thought it would be a good idea (especially given the popularity of Herb Alpert and the Tiajuana Brass in pop).

In 1968, the Nashville Brass released their first album. Their second album, The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds, won a Grammy Award for "Best Country Instrumental Performance" (ironically, the same year Jennings won for "MacArthur Park"). They also began a string of six consecutive "Instrumental Group of the Year" CMA award victories. All told, Davis & the Brass recorded over 30 albums. Although most were strictly instrumental, the 1978 release How I Love Them Old Songs featured Davis returning to the role of vocalist. In addition, he recorded albums backing artists such as Willie Nelson (they had a top 40 hit with "Funny How Time Slips Away" together) and Hank Locklin.

Davis took his Nashville Brass (with a rotating group of musicians -- only banjo player Curtis McPeake stayed for the duration) all over the world, to television shows (scenes of him on The Red Skelton Show appear on the album jacket of their four album, You Ain't Heard Nothin' Yet, along with liner notes written by Skelton), Vegas appearances, and presidental inaugurations (he played at Reagan's inauguration). Davis also was part of the "Million Dollar Band" on Hee Haw, which featured other Nashville musical greats such as Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, and Boots Randolph.

Danny Davis only retired from performing two years ago, settling down to work on his autobiography and sell Nashville Brass albums through his web site. He was at home on June 6 when he suffered a heart attack. He was taken to St. Thomas Hospital, where he died June 12th. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Barbara, four children, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Danny Davis was 83.