Died On This Date (July 13, 2013) Maurice D. Davis / Motown’s Funk Brothers
themusicsover Maurice D. Davis
June 9, 1941 – July 13, 2012
Maurice D. Davis was a respected trumpet player who, over the course of his long career, graced over 1500 recordings. After graduating from Tennessee State University and teaching for two years at Rust College, Davis found himself in Detroit, Michigan. The year was 1965, and Davis soon found himself playing in the legendary Motown session band, the Funk Brothers. During his term that lasted until 1980, Davis played on recordings by or toured with the likes of the Supremes, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and the Temptations on whose “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” he particularly shined. Beyond Motown, Davis played with Tony Bennett, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis Jr., Dizzy Gillespie, and many more. Through all this, Davis still found time to continue his teaching. In 1997, he retired from the Detroit Public Schools after 32 years. He also taught at Wayne State University from 1980 to 1995. An ordained minister as well, Davis founded the Trumpeting High Praises Community Resources Center in Detroit in 1998. In 2002, he was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary about the Funk Brothers, Standing In The Shadows of Motown. Maurice D. Davis was 71 when he passed away on July 13, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
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