Biography
Davis was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he began studying the piano at the age of 5, switched to tuba, and finally to bass while attending high school. He studied at Juilliard and Manhattan School of Music but graduated from Hunter College
As a busy New York session musician, he recorded with many pop artists and has also worked in classical symphony orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Art Davis was a professor at Orange Coast College.
Performing with bassist Reggie Workman in Coltrane's group, Davis pioneered the use of two basses in a jazz combo setting.
Davis is also known for launching a legal case which led to the current system of blind auditions for orchestras
Davis earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from New York University in 1982. He moved to southern California in 1986 where he balanced his teaching and practicing of psychology with jazz performances.
Davis died on July 29, 2007 from a heart attack. He was survived by two sons and a daughter.
Read more about this topic: Art Davis
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