Tyrone Davis
b. 4 May 1938, Greenville, Mississippi, USA. One of the great unknowns of soul music, Davis has been a consistent chartmaker for over 20 years. This former Freddie King valet was discovered working in Chicago nightclubs by pianist Harold Burrage. Can I Change My Mind (1968), Tyrone's first chart entry, was originally recorded as a b-side, but its success determined his musical direction. A singer in the mould of Bobby "Blue" Bland and Z.Z. Hill, Davis is at his most comfortable with mid-paced material, ideal for the classic 'Windy City' orchestrations enhancing the mature delivery exemplified on Is It Something You've Got and Turn Back The Hands Of Time, a US number 3. During the early '70s his producers began to tinker with this formula. I Had It All The Time (1972) offered a tongue-in-cheek spoken introduction while the beautifully crafted Without You In My Life (1973), There It Is (1973) and The Turning Point (1975) emphasized rhythmic punch without detracting from Tyrone's feather-light vocals. The artist's work continued to enjoy success, In The Mood (1979) and Are You Serious (1982) were both substantial R&B hits and he has since remained an active performer. As the singer's extensive catalogue suggests, he is also greatly underrated.