Danny Davis (May 29, 1925 – June 12, 2008) was a band leader, vocalist and producer and founder/leader of the Nashville Brass.
Danny Davis was born as George Nowlan into a large Irish-Catholic family (one of his brothers became a priest who at one time was assigned to the Vatican). When he became a professional musician, he changed his name to Danny Davis because MGM executive Harry Meseron told him that "he looked like a Danny." He took the last...
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Danny Davis (May 29, 1925 – June 12, 2008) was a band leader, vocalist and producer and founder/leader of the Nashville Brass.
Danny Davis was born as George Nowlan into a large Irish-Catholic family (one of his brothers became a priest who at one time was assigned to the Vatican). When he became a professional musician, he changed his name to Danny Davis because MGM executive Harry Meseron told him that "he looked like a Danny." He took the last name Davis because it was a common name in the South.
Davis's father died when he was five years old. His mother supported the family by giving music lessons (piano and voice) in the family home.
Davis began playing trumpet at a very early age under the guidance of a man named Joseph Donovan. By age 14 he was trumpet soloist with the Massachusetts All-State Symphony Orchestra and was granted admittance to the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. He decided to leave the conservatory after only six weeks when he was offered a job as a...
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