Tyrone Davis

Tyrone Davis (born Tyrone D. Fettson or Tyrone D. Branch, October 3, 1937 – February 9, 2005) (although many sources have his date of birth as May 4, 1938) was an American blues and soul singer with a long list of hit records over more than 20 years. Davis had three number 1 hits on the Billboard R&B chart: "Can I Change My Mind", "Turn Back the Hands of Time" (1970), and "Turning Point" (1975).

Biography Tyrone Fettson was born in Greenville, Mississippi, United States, to Willie Branch and Ora Lee Jones. Some sources give his date of birth as May 4, 1938, but researchers Bob Eagle and Eric LeBlanc state that his funeral notice gives the October 1937 date. failed to register.

Davis released about 25 singles during his seven years with Dakar, most of them big R&B sellers produced by Willie Henderson. He finally returned to the top spot with "Turning Point" in 1975. Soon afterwards, Davis switched to the major Columbia record label and recorded seven albums over the next five years with producer Leo Graham and arranger James Mack who had collaborated with him for "Turning Point." Major hits with Columbia included "Give It Up" (number 2), "This I Swear" (number 6), and "In the Mood" (number 6).

1982 brought a change of label to the newly established independent, Highrise and another major hit, "Are You Serious" (number 3 R&B, number 57 pop), again produced by Leo Graham, and written by L.V. Johnson. When Highrise closed the following year, Davis switched to a tiny Los Angeles label, Ocean Front, which lacked promotional muscle to get behind arguably one of his best performances, "Let Me Be Your Pacifier." In 1991, Davis switched to Atlanta label, Ichiban Records, recording three albums including the song "Mom's Apple Pie." In 1994, Davis went to Bellmark/Life Records for one album. Davis' days as a major chart act were over, but he continued to be a popular live attraction and finally signed in 1996 with Malaco Records, the southern-based blues label recording him on a number of albums. He also performed on a PBS special on 1970s soul music in 2004, singing "Turn Back the Hands of Time."

A stroke in September 2004 ended his career and, following complications, he died in a Chicago hospital on February 9, 2005, at the age of 67.

Discography Studio albums Year Album Chart positions Record label US USR&B USR&B 1968 "Can I Change My Mind" 5 1 Dakar 1969 "Is It Something You've Got" 34 5 1970 "Turn Back the Hands of Time" 3 1 "I'll Be Right Here" 53 8 "Let Me Back In" 58 12 1971 "Could I Forget You" 60 10 "One-Way Ticket" 75 18 "You Keep Me Holding On" 94 15 1972 "I Had It All the Time" 61 5 "Was I Just a Fool" — 26 "If You Had a Change in Mind" 107 28 1973 "Without You in My Life" 64 5 "There It Is" 32 9 "Wrapped Up in Your Warm and Tender Love" — 19 1974 "I Wish It Was Me" 57 11 "What Goes Up (Must Come Down)" 89 11 "Happiness Is Being with You" — 27 "I Can't Make It Without You" — 38 1975 "Homewreckers" — 36 "A Woman Needs to Be Loved" — 38 "Turning Point" — 1 1976 "So Good (To Be Home with You)" — 9 "Give It Up (Turn It Loose)" 38 2 Columbia "Ever Lovin' Girl" — 39 Dakar 1977 "Close to You" — 33 Columbia "This I Swear" 102 6 "All You Got" — 32 1978 "Get On Up (Disco)" 102 12 "Can't Help But Say" — 65 1979 "In the Mood" — 6 "Ain't Nothing I Can Do" — 72 "Be with Me" — 37 1980 "Can't You Tell It's Me" — 58 "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" — 36 1981 "Just My Luck" — 62 1982 "Are You Serious" 57 3 Highrise 1983 "A Little Bit of Loving (Goes a Long Way)" — 49 "I Found Myself When I Lost You" — 38 Ocean Front 1984 "Let Me Be Your Pacifier" — 33 1987 "I'm in Love Again" — 84 Future 1988 "Do You Feel It" — 54 "It's a Miracle" — 32 "Flashin' Back" — 61 "—" denotes that the single failed to chart