Hilda Emery Davis

Hilda Emery Davis (; November 1, 1895 – September 20, 1995) was an American composer and pianist, mainly active in Philadelphia. She was also married to famous orchestra leader Meyer Davis and was the mother of World Citizen Garry Davis.

Life Hilda Hodgkins was born on November 1, 1895 in Salisbury Cove, an unincorporated village in Bar Harbor, Maine to Eugene Hodgkins and Bethia (known as Bertha) Emery. Hodgkins began learning the piano when she was five years old while living in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She also sang in her church choir, and often performed piano accompaniment for her older sister Doris (who later became concert contralto and wife of Pierre Monteux). Hilda and Meyer had four other children, Meyer Davis Jr. in 1919, Sol Gareth "Garry" in 1921, Emery in 1923, and Marjorie Rose "Margie" in 1931.

The Davises maintained a close relationship with many leading orchestral conductors of the day, including Leopold Stokowski, who their children called "Stokey." There the composer taught music lessons and accompanied visiting performers such as tenor Andrew McKinley on the piano and the organ.

Music Although she is not as well known today, Davis was known as a "famous Philadelphia composer whose works have been played by the leading orchestras of the country..." The piece was also performed twice in 1940, once by the San Francisco Symphony, once again conducted by Monteux, and also by the Philadelphia Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy.

"You Are the Reason for My Love Song" Another of Davis' most celebrated compositions was a song she composed for the widely publicized wedding of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. to Ethel Du Pont. The song was performed for the very first time at the couples' wedding reception by Meyer Davis' orchestra and soloist William Horne. The lyrics were written by Sally Gibbs, daughter of Hamilton Gibbs, a novelist.