Multi-talented Donald Davis’ music career took off when he landed a national No. 1 hit in the fall of 1968 with “Who’s Making Love?’ by Johnnie Taylor and several other hits by the singer including “Jody’s Got Your Girl and Gone” and “Take Care of Your Homework.”

Davis was born Oct. 25, 1938 in Detroit. Davis’ music career started in the mid-1950s when the Central High School graduate formed a jazz group called the Don Davis Trio. However, the trio was short-lived and Davis opted to become a studio musician. He played guitar for numerous record companies including Motown.

His greatest success in the music business was Taylor’s “Disco Lady,” which was certified Platinum in early 1976 and remained No. 1 on the national R&B chart for six weeks and spent four weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Pop chart.

In the 1970s, Davis formed a record production and music publishing company called Groovesville. He also purchased United Sound recording studio, utilized by such artists as the Dramatics, George Clinton, the Dells, David Ruffin, Aretha Franklin and Burt Bacharach.

Having a zest for business, Davis turned his attention to the banking field. Davis was able to take over First Independence Bank, the only African American owned bank in Michigan. The bank was founded to provide mortgage and commercial loans to the area’s underserved African-American community at a time when red-lining made it difficult for blacks to buy houses. First Independence became the 12th largest bank owned by an African-American in the United States.

source:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20140606/NEWS/140609873/banking-entertainment-mogul-don-davis-dies-at-75