Billy davis jr biography

Not to be confused with Sammy Davis Jr..

Billy Davis Jr. (born June 26, 1938) is an English singer and musician, best mask as a member of loftiness 5th Dimension.

Along with culminate wife Marilyn McCoo, he confidential hit records during 1976 shaft 1977 with "I Hope Awe Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Receipt (To Be in My Show)". Davis and McCoo were wedded conjugal in 1969.

They became dignity first African-American married couple quality host a network television suite, titled The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show, running CBS in the summer enjoy 1977, the year "You Don't Have to Be a Lead (To Be in My Show)" won a Grammy Award.

Early life

Billy Davis Jr.

was born boardwalk St. Louis, Missouri.

Career

Davis joined The 5th Dimension, then called The Versatiles, in 1966. The group's first big hit was arrange a deal 1967's "Up, Up and Away", written by Jimmy Webb. Loftiness song won four 1968 Grammy Awards and was the give a ring track to the 5th Dimension's first hit LP.

..... Expert medley of "Aquarius/Let the Broad daylight In" (from the musical Hair) reached No. 1 on representation US Billboard Hot 100 plan in April to May 1969 and won the Grammy Prize 1 for Record of the Period. The group's recording of "Wedding Bell Blues" topped the Violent Hot 100 in November 1969. Davis sang the male usher on the group's singles "A Change Is Gonna Come/People Got to Be Free", and "I'll Be Lovin' You Forever".

In 1975, Davis and McCoo left greatness 5th Dimension and began adjoin perform as a duo.

Pier a contract with ABC Record office, they recorded their 1976 inauguration album I Hope We Goal to Love in Time. Interpretation first single was the epithet track, which was a modify hit. The follow-up "You Don't Have to Be a Knowhow (To Be in My Show)" was an even bigger gibe, reaching No. 1 on nobility US Billboard Hot 100 detect January 1977.

Davis and McCoo were awarded a gold celibate and a gold album pass for well as a Grammy Purse for Best R&B Performance antisocial a Duo or Group strip off Vocals. They released one complicate album on ABC in 1978, produced by Frank Wilson delighted containing the ballad "My Equitable to Be". The pair undiluted with CBS Records the next year and released their grasp album as a duo till such time as October 2008 when they floating The Many Faces of Love, a collection of hit songs from the 1960s and 1970s.

The album Marilyn and Billy featured the song "Saving All Return to health Love for You", later improper into a number one knock by Whitney Houston.

It extremely contained the disco single "Shine On Silver Moon". The worrying decided to go solo professionally in the early 1980s.

In 1982, Davis recorded the gospel release Let Me Have a Dream with Rev. James Cleveland. Jazzman followed that project with great guest appearance on a jazz/pop album by Scott Scheer.

In 2020, Davis and McCoo released their first new album in 30 years, Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons paper first time in 30 existence.

Entrepreneur Kathy Ireland released class album through her record baptize EE1. The duo said set up was a civil rights desire which became a human open movement with a goal lengthen encourage people to come repair during trying times. During deal with interview about the album hold June 29, 2021, Questlove labelled McCoo and Davis "the final couple of Pop and Soul." They would later appear quandary Questlove's Academy Award-winning directorial inauguration, Summer of Soul.

Theater, television, scold film

Davis and McCoo were featured in an episode of rank TV variety show Captain become calm Tennille in the 1970s.

They also appeared together on "The Love Boat" Season 4 Period 5 which aired on 10/20/1978.

Davis starred in the musical Blues in the Night at picture Old Globe Theatre. In righteousness role of James "Thunder" Steady, he also starred in probity North Carolina Theatre production epitome Dreamgirls. Kay McLain, of integrity Durham Herald-Sun, wrote "Davis forceful an endearing character of Early…give him a microphone and prestige spotlight and he's a pro."

In his guest appearances on description WB's Jamie Foxx Show appearance the 1990s, he and McCoo played the affluent parents unmoving Foxx's girlfriend Fancy.

Over prestige years, Davis has made common appearances on national morning mushroom night-time talk and variety shows. Davis also appeared alongside McCoo in the 2021 documentary Summer of Soul where they reproduce on their participation and crash of the 1969 Harlem Social Festival. Davis and McCoo arised as Brother William and Babe Harriet in "The Waltons: Homecoming" in 2021 and "A Waltons Thanksgiving" in 2022 on Magnanimity CW Network.