Dennis Davis

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Davis met guitarist Carlos Alomar when they were both playing with Roy Ayers. Davis was hired by David Bowie in 1974 for two tracks on Young Americans. Alomar, Davis and George Murray formed the "D.A.M. Trio" rhythm section which performed on seven successive albums released by Bowie in the 1970s, all of which are regarded as amongst the artist's best. Davis also played on three live albums recorded during that period, two of which were released after Bowie's death. The snare sound used on Bowie's Low album is considered influential on many later records. It was the result of early pitch shifting technology coupled with Davis's sensitive touch as a performer. In the late seventies Davis also teamed up with Stevie Wonder and worked on four albums over the following decade. In the early 2000s, he played percussion on David Bowie's live tours, including the artist's last, A Reality Tour, in 2003. The drummer for that band was Sterling Campbell, who was previously a student of Davis.

In Their Own Story

When interviewed, Tony Visconti played Davis' drum and "thunderous" conga tracks from "Look Back in Anger", periodically exclaiming "great!", "amazing!", "that's killer!", and noting that Davis "plays so many things at once... and yet it doesn't sound busy." The accompanying review says that Davis is "that most perfect of drummers too: endlessly inventive, yet never gets in the way of the funk." Davis died on April 6, 2016, of cancer. His youngest son, Hikaru Davis, made a series of interview videos from 2016 to 2019 speaking with musicians who knew his father. T-Bone Motta, an older son, has been the drummer for Public Enemy since 2012.

Reader's Guide

Davis joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Rowan (DD-782) from 1969 to 1970 during the Vietnam War. He was discharged from the U.S Navy in 1970 in San Diego, California. He was wounded during his military service, but was able to hone his skills when he performed as part of the US Navy's Drum and Bugle Corps. His selective discography with David Bowie includes: Young Americans (1975) – "Across the Universe", "Fame"; Station to Station (1976); Low (1977); "Heroes" (1977); Stage (1978); Lodger (1979); Scary Monsters (1980); Live Nassau Coliseum '76 (2017); Welcome to the Blackout (Live London '78) (2018); Live in Berlin [1978] L.P. (2018); I'm Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74) (2020).

Did You Know?

• Davis studied with drummers Max Roach and Elvin Jones before joining the Clark Terry Big Band in 1967.
• He served on the USS Rowan (DD-782) from 1969 to 1970 during the Vietnam War and was wounded during his service.
• The snare sound on Bowie's Low album came from early pitch shifting technology combined with Davis's sensitive touch.
• Sterling Campbell, drummer on Bowie's A Reality Tour, was previously a student of Davis.
• Davis's older son T-Bone Motta has been the drummer for Public Enemy since 2012.