Singer and songwriter Lynn Davis has had a seasoned journey in the music industry.
LOS ANGELES, CA–Singer and songwriter Lynn Davis has had a seasoned journey in the music industry. She has worked as a back-up singer for Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and George Duke, a sessions vocalist, and has songwriting credits for Latoya Jackson and Patrice Rushen tracks.
Over 40 years into her career, she's ready to release music as a solo artist with her debut single “Can I Come Over.”
“A lot of our crooners and real R&B singers now are either gone or record companies aren't really signing them to do any records. But the blessing for me was that my voice is still young and that I still have one,” says Davis. “Why shouldn't we continue to do our music regardless of our age and everything. Especially being able to do it as an indie artist. It's a blessing. It's been good.”
Davis grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by her musically-inspired family. Her father sang classically, while her grandfather was the minister of their church—exposing her to the church choir and then becoming interested in jazz and Motown. She performed in groups during school, winning the Hollywood Bowl Battle of the Bands as a vocal act with friend Elaine Norwood.
The Davis household encouraged Davis’s musical pursuits and the singer soon began auditioning for Broadway plays, then auditioning for George Duke at 17-years-old. At the time, Duke was touring clubs Davis wasn’t old enough to enter, so he kept in touch with her until college when he invited her to join his band on their 1979 George Duke Band tour.
“Even when I was at USC in my second year, and I had a full scholarship, I went home and told my mom, 'This guy George Duke wants me to go on tour with him. Can I take a leave of absence?' And she was like, sure, this is part of your education as well. So, I was supported.” tells Davis. “My gift was supported at a very, very early age in my life. And my parents' support is undeniably directed and supported the path that God was sending me on.”
That tour began a musical partnership between Davis and George Duke that led to 1979’s “I Want You For Myself.” The funk track has Davis on lead vocals and produced a Billboard charting hit. That same year, Davis provided vocals for Raul De Souza and Twennynine, followed by La Toya Jackson’s “If You Feel the Funk” in 1980. This propelled Davis’ career as a sessions vocalist and songwriter, learning the ropes behind-the-scene that included production work. She found another hit with co-writing Patrice Rushen’s “Come Back to Me” and Rushen's Grammy nominated single “Forget Me Nots.” Davis would tour backing vocals for Marvin Gaye on his Sexual Healing tour and Stevie Wonder's The Women in Red tour, worked with Japanese musician Toshinobu Kubota, and sang backing vocals for artist from Celine Dion and Diana Ross, to Emerson, Lake, & Palmer and Frank Zappa.
Davis says her debut album Lynn Davis: From the Vault is still in its mastering process and receiving its finishing touches. From the Vault is entirely produced and mastered by Davis under her label Bella Music. “Can I Come Over” is a soulful and passionate track, with Davis vocals just as fresh as in 1977 with instrumentals taking influence from '90s R&B. The track talks about a relationship where the couple only sees one another occasionally and the feeling of anticipating their embrace each time they reunite. Davis describes her songwriting process as a moment, writing a story within each track.
“I’ll hear a melody, then I'll hear the hook, and then a story starts to develop within. And that's kind of the process for ‘Can I Come Over,’” says Davis. “I want women to always feel empowered. I wanted something that talked about love and a story of love. I approach my song writing like a book. You're telling a story, so that's my love story in that song.”
In addition to plans for a U.K. tour promoting Lynn Davis: From the Vault, Davis is releasing a book about her own journey as a singer and experience as a woman in the industry, that’s set to release in 2023.
“I don't want to give up all the juice, but all the stories are in the book.”
Lynn Davis isn’t done telling her story—and this time she's going to be center stage.
Follow Davis on the following social media channels and platforms:
Websites:
Spotify
Lynn Davis
YouTube
Apple Music
“Can I Come Over” on YouTube
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