Billy Davis Event 2024

Billy Davis is an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Doo Wop Hall of Fame,

and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Billy was the lead guitarist for Hank

Ballard and The Midnighters for 30 years. Born in Bentonia, MS in 1938, by the age of

17, Billy Davis & The Upsetters became Berry Gordy’s first in-house live band. He was

the guitarist for Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Ben E. King, and many other artists

including Martha and The Vandellas. Billy was the mentor and lifelong friend of Jimi

Hendrix teaching him what he knew about guitar and his special sound which in later

years became the signature for many other musicians.

Billy Davis is a hard-working guitarist, associated throughout the years with well-known

musical contemporaries such as James Brown, David Ruffin, Chubby Checker and

Berry Gordy; with fans as famous as Bruce Willis, Danny Glover and many others. Billy

co-wrote music for many famous hits including “The Twist” when with Hank Ballard,

which was later popularized with Chubby Checker’s version. In 1988 Billy appeared in

the cult film Tapeheads with John Cusack and Tim Robbins.

Billy has been very active recording several albums including original songs, as well as

collaborating with many other artists when called upon. He has continued to share his

great insight into the music world and his golden memories of working with the greats as

he is interviewed on many local and national radio stations and in national music

magazines. He can be seen in the music documentary films Re-Mastered: The Two

Killings of Sam Cooke and Paradise Boogie.

Mighty Michael, 16 years old, has been performing since he was 7 years old. Since 9

years old, he has been performing with The Billy Davis Rhythm Machine Band on

harmonica, guitar, and vocals. He has won many state and national awards and

nominations including a 2018 Detroit Music Award nomination, Tribute from the State of

Michigan Best New Music Artist, 2018, Detroit Black Music Award 2019, SPAH (Society

for the Preservation & Advancement of Harmonica) Youth Scholarship in Tulsa, OK

2019, and represented the USA in 2021. He was a 2022 SPAH Youth Scholar and had

been awarded a 2022 Master Class Youth Scholarship by the Pinetop Perkins

Foundation in Clarksdale, MS. In January 2023 Michael performed in Memphis at the

international Blues Challenge and at the King Biscuit Blues Festival in Helena, AR. In

2023 Michael was appointed to the Board of Directors, Youth Committee, of the Society

for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica (SPAH).