Jackie Davis

Benjamin Jackson Porter "Jackie" Davis (December 13, 1920 – November 2, 1999) was an American soul jazz singer, organist and bandleader. He is notable for his contributions in bringing the Hammond organ to the forefront of jazz and pop, preceding the better-known Jimmy Smith by several years.

His solo career began in earnest after a residency at the Club Harlem in Philadelphia in 1951, and from there he began touring across the US, with the Hammond now being his trademark. He notably preceded Jimmy Smith in using the instrument in small jazz combos.

In the 1960s, he signed to Warner Bros. Records, releasing Easy Does It as The Jackie Davis Quartet, following it up with Jackie Davis Plus Voices, which also featured the Sid Bass Chorus on backing vocals. For this album, Davis put more of an emphasis on his vocal skills, using the Hammond sparingly.

Discography Studio albums Year Title Label Format Notes 1952 Jackie Davis Trio Trend TL-1010 10" LP 1956 Hi-Fi Hammond Capitol T-686 LP 1956 Organistics Kapp KL-1030 LP reissue of Trend album plus 4 additional songs 1957 Chasing Shadows Capitol T-815 LP 1958 Jumpin' Jackie Capitol T-974 LP 1958 Most Happy Hammond Capitol T-1046 LP 1959 Jackie Davis Meets the Trombones Capitol T-1180 LP 1959 Hammond Gone Cha-Cha Capitol T-1338 LP 1960 Tiger on the Hammond Capitol T-1419 LP 1960 Hi-Fi Hammond, Vol. 2 Capitol T-1517 LP 1962 Big Beat Hammond Capitol T-1686 LP 1963 Easy Does It Warner Bros. W-1492 LP 1963 Jackie Davis Plus Voices Warner Bros. W-1515 LP with Sid Bass Chorus 196? Jackie Davis Plays The Park Plaza RCA Victor (Canada) PC-1061 LP 196? Here's Jackie Kei-Mar Records JD-10701 LP 1968 The Sacred Side of Jackie Davis Brunswick BL-754143 LP 197? Jackie Davis Entertains! Columbia (Canada) EL-112 LP 197? The Jackie Davis Story EMI 5C 052.81029 LP reissue of Hi-Fi Hammond, Vol. 2 1980 Jackie Davis EMI 1A 054.26474 LP 2007 Jackie Davis Fonos LP-9410 CD reissue

Compilations Year Title Label Format Notes 1970 The Best of Jackie Davis Capitol 5C 054.80309 LP 1996 Mambo Fever - Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 2 Capitol CDP 7243 8 32564 2 6 CD various artists sampler features 2 tracks by Davis: "Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me)" and "Glow Worm Cha-Cha-Cha". 1996 Organs in Orbit - Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 11 Capitol CDP 7243 8 37597 2 9 CD various artists sampler features 2 tracks by Davis: "Love Is Just Around The Corner" and "Perfidia". 2001 The Story of Jazz - Jackie Davis EMI 724357621526 CD 2008 Jumping Hi-Fi Hammond Jasmine JASCD 472 2-CD reissues Hi-Fi Hammond, Chasing Shadows, Jumpin' Jackie, Most Happy Hammond 2016 Jackie Davis: Five Classic Albums Avid EMSC 1202 2-CD reissues Jumpin' Jackie, Jackie Davis Meets The Trombones, Hammond Gone Cha-Cha, Tiger On The Hammond, Big Beat Hammond

As sideman Rel. Performer Title Label Format Notes 1955 Dinah Washington After Hours with Miss D Emarcy MG 36028 LP, CD 1958 Louis Jordan Man We're Wailin'''