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Billy Davis Jr.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Sammy Davis Jr..

Billy Davis Jr.
Davis Jr. in 1977
Davis Jr. in 1977
Background information
Born (1938-06-26) June 26, 1938 (age 86)
OriginSt. Louis, Missouri, US
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer, musician
Years active1950s–present
Labels
Spouse
​
(m. 1969)​
Websitemccoodavis.com

Billy Davis Jr. (born June 26, 1938)[1] is an American singer and musician, best known as a member of the 5th Dimension. Along with his wife Marilyn McCoo, he had hit records during 1976 and 1977 with "I Hope We Get to Love in Time", "Your Love", and "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)". Davis and McCoo were married in 1969. They became the first African-American married couple to host a network television series, titled The Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. Show, on CBS in the summer of 1977, the year "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" won a Grammy Award.

Career

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Davis joined The 5th Dimension, then called The Versatiles, in 1966. The group's first big hit was with 1967's "Up, Up and Away", written by Jimmy Webb. The song won four 1968 Grammy Awards[2] and was the title track to the 5th Dimension's first hit LP. A year later, the group recorded the song "Stoned Soul Picnic". A medley of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (from the musical Hair) reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in April to May 1969[2] and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.

Davis performing in 1970

In 1975, Davis and McCoo left the 5th Dimension and began to perform as a duo.[2] Landing a contract with ABC Records, they recorded their 1976 debut album I Hope We Get to Love in Time. The first single was the title track, which was a moderate hit. The follow-up "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" was an even bigger hit, reaching No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in January 1977.[3] Davis and McCoo were awarded a gold single and a gold album as well as a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[4] Davis and McCoo were featured in an episode of the TV variety show Captain and Tennille in the 1970s.[5] They also appeared together on "The Love Boat" Season 4 Episode 5 which aired on October 21, 1978.[6] The album Marilyn and Billy featured the song "Saving All My Love for You", later turned into a number one hit by Whitney Houston.[7] Davis starred in the musical Blues in the Night at the Old Globe Theatre.[8] In his guest appearances on the WB's Jamie Foxx Show in the 1990s, he and McCoo played the affluent parents of Foxx's girlfriend Fancy.[9]

In 2020, Davis and McCoo released their first new album in 30 years, Blackbird: Lennon-McCartney Icons for first time in 30 years. Entrepreneur Kathy Ireland released the album through her record label EE1.[10] The duo said it was a civil rights movement which became a human rights movement with a goal to encourage people to come together during trying times, as it was recorded during the covid 19 pandemic.[10][11] During an interview about the album on June 29, 2021, Questlove called McCoo and Davis "the first couple of Pop and Soul." They would later appear in Questlove's Academy Award-winning directorial debut, Summer of Soul.[12]

Davis also appeared alongside McCoo in the 2021 documentary Summer of Soul where they reflected on their participation and impact of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Davis and McCoo appeared as Brother William and Sister Harriet in "The Waltons: Homecoming" in 2021 and "A Waltons Thanksgiving" in 2022 on The CW Network.[13][14][15]

Personal life

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Billy Davis Jr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] Davis and McCoo have been married for more than 50 years, since July 26, 1969.[2][16] In 1999, Davis was diagnosed with Prostate cancer.[11]

Discography

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with Marilyn McCoo

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Albums

Year Title Chart positions Certifications
US
[17] 		US R&B
[18]
1976 I Hope We Get to Love in Time 30 7
1977 The Two of Us 57 26
1978 Marilyn & Billy 146 59

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[20] 		US R&B
[21] 		US A/C
[22] 		US Dance
[23] 		NZ
[24] 		UK
[25]
1976 "I Hope We Get to Love on Time" 91 37 9 ― ― ― I Hope We Get to Love in Time
"You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" 1 1 6 — 5 7
1977 "Your Love" 15 9 21 ― ― ―
"Look What You've Done to My Heart" 51 27 29 ― ― ― The Two of Us
"Wonderful" ― 76 ― ― ― ―
1978 "My Reason to Be Is You" ― 92 38 ― ― ―
"Shine On Silver Moon" ― 86 ― 32 ― ― Marilyn & Billy
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

References

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  1. ^ a b Davis, Billy Jr.; McCoo, Marilyn (2004). "2". Up, Up and Away. Chicago: Northfield Publishing. ISBN 1-881273-17-2. ...my story begins on June 26, 1938, when I was born in St. Louis, Missouri...
  2. ^ a b c d Larkin, Colin (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (1st ed.). Guinness Publishing. pp. 84, 85. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 338.
  4. ^ "Rock On The Net: Grammy Awards: Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group". www.rockonthenet.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  5. ^ "Episode #1.13", The Captain and Tennille, Daryl Dragon, Toni Tennille, Muhammad Ali, January 24, 1977, retrieved March 8, 2025{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ^ Baron, Allen; Duchowny, Roger (October 21, 1978), "Mike and Ike/The Witness/The Kissing Bandit", The Love Boat, Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Fred Grandy, retrieved March 8, 2025
  7. ^ Marilyn & Billy - Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, ... | AllMusic, retrieved March 8, 2025
  8. ^ Logograph. "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr". The Lyric Theatre. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  9. ^ "The Jamie Foxx Show: Season 5, Episode 12 | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Davis, Billy Jr.; McCoo, Marilyn. "Sunday Conversation: Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr Return to the Studio After 30 Years with Beatles Tribute Album". Forbes. Interviewed by Steve Baltin.
  11. ^ a b Mediaplanet (December 22, 2021). "How Legendary Singers Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. are Supporting Black Health". Future of Personal Health. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  12. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis - Questlove Supreme". iheart.com.
  13. ^ "The Waltons' Homecoming Sneak Peek: See Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. Sing a Soulful 'Silent Night'". TVGuide.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  14. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 10, 2021). "'The Waltons: Homecoming' Special at CW Sets Main Cast". Variety. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  15. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. | "Silly Love Songs" (New Video)". TheUrbanMusicScene.com. February 16, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  16. ^ kristencastillo (January 11, 2022). "An INTERVIEW WITH MUSIC LEGENDS Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr". Kristen Castillo. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  17. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard R&B Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  19. ^ a b "American certifications – MARILYN MC COO & BILLY DAVIS, JR". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard R&B". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard A/C". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. - Billboard Dance". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  24. ^ Steffen Hung. "Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. - You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)". charts.nz. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "MARILYN MCCOO AND BILLY DAVIS songs and albums - full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
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