MELVIN LEE DAVIS
CAPABILITIES: Proficient at 4,5,6, and 7 String Basses, Fretted and Fretless, Acoustic Bass, Synth Bass, Keyboards, Lead and Backing Vocals.
MAIN INSTRUMENT: Ken Smith Custom MD7 String Contra Bass Guitar
PERSONAL: Creative, open-minded, enjoys meeting people, highly expressive on stage, punctual, willing and able to travel.
PREFERRED STYLES OF MUSIC: (as labeled by the music industry)
- Gospel
- Blues
- Jazz (Swing/Be-Bop)
- Contemporary Jazz
- R & B (Rhythm & Blues)
- Pop
- Soul / Funk
- Hip Hop
TOURING AND SINGLE PERFORMANCES WITH:
Currently: Gerald Albright, David Pack, Lee Ritenour, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Kashiwa, Phil Perry
2004: David Benoit and Russ Freeman Project II, Lee Ritenour
2003: Matt Goss UK Tour
2003: Jeff Kashiwa & Coastal Access / Lee Ritenour / Eric Marienthal / Phil Perry / The Braxton Brothers / Paul Taylor / Chuck Loeb / Huge Groove /
Jeff Lorber / Gerald Albright / AB /
2002: Doves Of Fire w/Steve Lukather, Simon Phillips, Jeff Babko. Rufus featuring Chaka Khan / Lee Ritenour / Jeff Kashiwa & Coastal Access
2001: Chaka Khan / Lee Ritenour / Jeff Kashiwa & Coastal Access
1999: Performed with "The Simon Phillips Group"
1996: George Duke
1995: The Lee Ritenour/Larry Carlton Project
1990-1997: Lee Ritenour
1994-1995: World tour with Bryan Ferry
1994: David Benoit and Russ Freeman Project
1989-1997: Chaka Khan
1985-1993: The Pointer Sisters
1980-1987: O'Bryan
PRODUCTION:
Mark Stephens's "Up coming CD release (co-produced, engineered and mixed at The Bassment Studio)
Eric Marienthal's "Sweet Talk" (co-produced, engineered and mixed at The Bassment Studio)
Nature's Serenade (recorded and produced and mixed at The Bassment Studio)
Tomorrow's Yesterdays (recorded and produced and mixed at The Bassment Studio)
Variations In Time (recorded and produced and mixed at The Bassment Studio)
TELEVISION PERFORMANCES:
Rosie O'Donnell Show
Oprah Winfrey Show
The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Late Night with David Letterman
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
NBC's "Up all night with the Pointer Sisters"
"Eye On L.A." w/ Pointer Sisters
Arsenio Hall Show;
Soul Train
NBC's Fraiser,
Cheers
The Danny Baker Show (London)
Show,Show,Show (Korea)
Hard Rock Live VH-1
Howey Mandell Show
HBO Special "Sinbad Funk Fest"
HBO's "The Chris Rock Show"
Motown Live!
BET's "Jazz Central"
MOTION PICTURE RECORDINGS AND PERFORMANCES:
"Coming To America" Starring Eddie Murphy & Arsenio Hall
"Jump Shot" Starring Kim Basinger & Danny DeVito
Los Angeles native Melvin Lee Davis was discovered at the tender age of 16 by Buddy Miles, when a horn player from Buddy Miles' band heard Melvin playing in a local club.
Buddy Miles flew Davis to New York to audition for his band and immediately hired him. After playing the New York club circuit, Melvin found himself working with Don Cornelius of Soul Train. There he worked as a studio/touring bassist for pop artist and long time friend O'Bryan.
He has also toured and recorded with Chaka Khan, the Pointer Sisters, Lee Ritenour, Bryan Ferry, David Benoit, Larry Carlton, Patti Austin, Gladys Knight, Fusion Group "KUSH" and many other top acts. Davis wrote the theme for the TV show "The Party Machine" and "Soul Train's A Coming" and has appeared on "Johnny Carson", "David Letterman", "Jay Leno", and "Arsenio Hall."
Melvin has travelled the world and continues to be in high demand across many genres of music because of his incredible talent and positive demeanor on and off stage.
Hi Melvin I hope you are doing fine, that was a great concert last night in"New Morning".Thanks for the music and the pictures I had with you and the rest of the band.I have to say that you are a real great talent.Hope to se you in Paris again. Here's me playing a few tunes.
Tonight as we celebrate, we know that most of what we dislike about the past year is directly linked to choices made for us...by us. We should all whisper a prayer for the millions of people around the world who have no choice as to how they'll simply survive year after year. Those who if given the chance to choose would do so as if their lives depended on every decision made. Remember, you have the freedom of choice. Choose wisely in the years ahead.
