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Maxwell Davis





Record producer, session musician, arranger, band leader and saxophonist Thomas Maxwell Davis Jnr. (right in image) was born in Independence, Kansas on 14 January 1916. In 1937 he moved to Los Angeles and began playing with the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra. From the mid 1940s he became influential on the West Coast Rhythm and Blues scene, becoming regarded as "the father of west coast R&B". After a number of years playing in sessions for various labels he moved to Modern in 1955 becoming a producer and music director. You can hear him playing on many classic west coast R&B recordings including those by Amos Millburn and on "KC Loving" by Little Willie Littlefield.  His final production activity was to produce the soul singer Z. Z. Hill.

Maxwell Davis died from a heart attack in Los Angeles, California, on 18 September 1970.

Image: WBSS Media

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