Bonnie Davis
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Davis was an American R&B singer most popular in the 1940s.
She was born Melba Smith in Bessemer, Alabama
, and initially planned to become a school teacher. However, in the late 1930s she started working as a singer in New York, initially in saxophonist Teddy Hill
's band. She and Hill had a daughter together, who was born Beatrice Hill (born October 29, 1945 in New York City
) and later became the singer Melba Moore
.
On March 6, 1943, she had a # 1 R&B hit with "Don't Stop Now
", which was credited to Bonnie Davis and the Bunny Banks Trio, apparently in order to circumvent union rules during a musicians' strike. The recording also featured pianist Clement Moorman, whom Davis later married.
Davis and Moorman continued to perform together in clubs as a duo as late as the 1970s, before her death in 1976 in New Jersey
.
She was born Melba Smith in Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
, and initially planned to become a school teacher. However, in the late 1930s she started working as a singer in New York, initially in saxophonist Teddy Hill
Teddy Hill
Teddy Hill was a big band leader and the manager of Minton's Playhouse, a seminal jazz club in Harlem...
's band. She and Hill had a daughter together, who was born Beatrice Hill (born October 29, 1945 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) and later became the singer Melba Moore
Melba Moore
Beatrice Melba Smith , known by her stage name, Melba Moore is an American disco, R&B singer and actress. She is the daughter of saxophonist Teddy Hill and R&B singer Bonnie Davis.-Early life:...
.
On March 6, 1943, she had a # 1 R&B hit with "Don't Stop Now
Don't Stop Now (song)
"Don't Stop Now" is a 1943 single on the Savoy label by Bonnie Davis. "Don't Stop Now" would be Bonnie Davis sole hit, peaking at number one on the Harlem Hit Parade on March 6, 1943, for five non consecutive weeks...
", which was credited to Bonnie Davis and the Bunny Banks Trio, apparently in order to circumvent union rules during a musicians' strike. The recording also featured pianist Clement Moorman, whom Davis later married.
Davis and Moorman continued to perform together in clubs as a duo as late as the 1970s, before her death in 1976 in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.