Geater Davis
Encyclopedia
Vernon "Geater" Davis was an American
soul
singer and songwriter. He has been described as "one of the South's great lost soul singers, an impassioned stylist whose voice was a combination of sweetness and sandpaper grit."
. In the late 1960s he was heard performing, along with Reuben Bell
, by record producer Allen Orange. Orange arranged for them to record in Birmingham, Alabama
, and started his own House of Orange label
to release their output. Geater's first release, "Sweet Woman's Love", in 1970, reached # 45 on the Billboard
R&B chart. His follow-up singles on the House of Orange label, including "I Can Hold My Own" and "Best Of Luck To You", were less commercially successful, but he recorded an album, Sweet Woman's Love, which is now considered a classic of the deep soul genre. He often wrote or co-wrote his own material.
After Orange closed his label in 1972, Davis recorded for the Luna label, and then for John Richbourg's 77 label, where several of his recordings such as "I'm Gonna Change" and "A Whole Lot Of Man" were made at the FAME Studios
in Muscle Shoals
. His 1973 single, "Your Heart Is So Cold" reached # 64 on the R&B chart. However, Davis' records did not generally sell well, despite heavy touring on the blues and chitlin circuits. He recorded for the Ace label in the mid 1970s, and later issued some disco singles on the revitalised House Of Orange label. In 1981 he joined the MT label run by James Bennett in Jackson, Mississippi
, which issued several singles and an album, Better Days.
Davis died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas
in 1984 at the age of 38.
In 1998, West Side Records released Sadder Shades of Blue: The Southern Soul Sessions 1971-76, a compilation covering most of his recordings other than those for House of Orange. His remaining material, I'll Play The Blues For You: The Legendary House Of Orange Sessions, was released in 2008.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer and songwriter. He has been described as "one of the South's great lost soul singers, an impassioned stylist whose voice was a combination of sweetness and sandpaper grit."
Life and career
Davis was born in Kountze, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. In the late 1960s he was heard performing, along with Reuben Bell
Reuben Bell
Reuben Bell was an African American soul singer who recorded from the late 1960s to the early 1980s, and is best known for his emotional tenor vocals on the songs "It's Not That Easy" and "I Hear You Knocking "....
, by record producer Allen Orange. Orange arranged for them to record in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, and started his own House of Orange label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
to release their output. Geater's first release, "Sweet Woman's Love", in 1970, reached # 45 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart. His follow-up singles on the House of Orange label, including "I Can Hold My Own" and "Best Of Luck To You", were less commercially successful, but he recorded an album, Sweet Woman's Love, which is now considered a classic of the deep soul genre. He often wrote or co-wrote his own material.
After Orange closed his label in 1972, Davis recorded for the Luna label, and then for John Richbourg's 77 label, where several of his recordings such as "I'm Gonna Change" and "A Whole Lot Of Man" were made at the FAME Studios
FAME Studios
FAME Studios are located at 603 East Avalon in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. They have been an integral part of American popular music from the late 1950s to the present...
in Muscle Shoals
Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama,in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett , Roger Hawkins , Jimmy Johnson and David Hood left FAME Studios to create their own studio...
. His 1973 single, "Your Heart Is So Cold" reached # 64 on the R&B chart. However, Davis' records did not generally sell well, despite heavy touring on the blues and chitlin circuits. He recorded for the Ace label in the mid 1970s, and later issued some disco singles on the revitalised House Of Orange label. In 1981 he joined the MT label run by James Bennett in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, which issued several singles and an album, Better Days.
Davis died of a heart attack in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
in 1984 at the age of 38.
In 1998, West Side Records released Sadder Shades of Blue: The Southern Soul Sessions 1971-76, a compilation covering most of his recordings other than those for House of Orange. His remaining material, I'll Play The Blues For You: The Legendary House Of Orange Sessions, was released in 2008.
Singles
- Sweet Woman's Love / Don't Marry A Fool (House Of Orange 2401, 1970)
- My Love Is So Strong For You / I Can Hold My Own (House Of Orange 2402, 1971)
- For Your Precious Love* / Wrapped Up In You (House Of Orange 2405, 1971)
- Best Of Luck To You / I Know (My Baby Loves Me) (House Of Orange 2407, 1971)
- I'm Gonna Change / I've Got To Pay The Price (Luna 801, 1972)
- Don't Walk Off (And Leave Me) / I Don't Worry (About Jody) (Luna 804, 1972)
- Long Cold Winter / Why Does It Hurt So Bad (Seventy Seven 124, 1973)
- Your Heart Is So Cold / You Made Your Bed Hard (Seventy Seven 130, 1973)
- I'm Gonna Change / I've Got To Pay The Price (Seventy Seven 136, 1973)
- Nice and Easy / Strange Sensation (Ace 3006, 1974)
- I’ll Play the Blues for You / My Love is So Strong for You (Odds and Ends 7600, 1975)
- Tired of Busting My Brain / There's Got to Be Some Changes Made (Ace 3019, 1976)
- Cold Love / Short version (House of Orange 2410, 1977)
- Disco Music / I’ll Play the Blues for You (House of Orange 79100, 1979)
- Wherever You Are / Pt 2 (Sun Belt 7179, 1979)
- Right Back For More / Pt 2 (MT 001, 1981)
- I'll Take Care of You / Right Back For More (MT 002, 1981)
- Booty Music / Breath Taking Girl (House of Orange 2615, 1982)
- Don't Give Up / Better Days (MT 005, 1983)
- Baby Love / Go Your Way (MT 007, 1983)