Louis F. "Chip" Davis Jr. (born September 5, 1947) is the founder and leader of the music group Mannheim Steamroller. Davis composed the music for several C. W. McCall albums, including the hit 1975 song "

Convoy A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support and can help maintain cohesion within a unit. It may also be used ...

". He has also written and made other albums, such as ''Day Parts'', and has written several books.

Early life

Louis F. Davis was born in Hamler, Ohio. His family later moved to Portland, Ohio, and, when Davis was 11, to

Sylvania, Ohio Sylvania is a city in Lucas County, Ohio, United States. The population was 19,011 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Sylvania is a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, Toledo, and encompassed by Sylvania Township, Lucas County, Ohio, Sylvania Town ...

. He began piano lessons at age 4 and had composed his first piece of music at age 6. He graduated from Sylvania High School and went on to graduate from the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

School of Music, specializing in

bassoon The bassoon is a musical instrument in the woodwind family, which plays in the tenor and bass ranges. It is composed of six pieces, and is usually made of wood. It is known for its distinctive tone color, wide range, versatility, and virtuosity ...

and

percussion A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a percussion mallet, beater including attached or enclosed beaters or Rattle (percussion beater), rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or ...

and playing the University of Michigan Symphony Band. Davis's parents both attended the university, and his father played

clarinet The clarinet is a Single-reed instrument, single-reed musical instrument in the woodwind family, with a nearly cylindrical bore (wind instruments), bore and a flared bell. Clarinets comprise a Family (musical instruments), family of instrume ...

in the band.

Career

After touring with the Norman Luboff Choir, he took a job with

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, advertising agency Bozell & Jacobs, Inc. writing

jingle A jingle is a short song or tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. Jingles are a form of sound branding. A jingle contains one or more hooks and meanings that explicitly promote the product or service being advertised, usually ...

s. These included spots for a local company, Metz Bakery, featuring the fictional trucker C. W. McCall. The spots were co-written with the advertising writer William Fries, who became the voice of McCall. The spots were so popular that Davis and Fries were persuaded to begin writing non-advertising songs featuring McCall. The song "Convoy" reached number 1 on the

Billboard Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), ...

the week of January 10, 1976, using CB slang during the CB/ trucker fad. The duo released five albums between 1974 and 1979. Davis was named SESAC Country Music Writer of the Year in 1976. Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller with Jackson Berkey in 1974 to showcase his interest in fusing modern popular and classical techniques. The first album, '' Fresh Aire'', was completed shortly after. It was turned down by major record labels, so Davis founded American Gramaphone to release it. American Gramaphone has been the label for all subsequent Mannheim Steamroller releases. Eight ''Fresh Aire'' albums were released, concluding with '' Fresh Aire 8'' in 2000. Mannheim Steamroller released '' Mannheim Steamroller Christmas'' in 1984; Davis is credited with revolutionizing the "traditional" sounds of Christmas. The group's subsequent Christmas music albums have sold tens of millions of copies and become among the most popular recordings in that genre. His annual Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert tour, utilizing two cover bands that tour simultaneously, has continued for over 25 years across the US. Davis was awarded his 19th gold record in 2010. The Recording Industry Association of America has also awarded Davis four multi-platinum and eight platinum records. Davis also hosts a once-a-year, 24-hour Christmas music and story radio program called ''An American Christmas''. The program is produced by WestStar Multimedia and broadcast on December 24–25 over hundreds of radio stations.

Discography

As Chip Davis * ''Sunday Morning Coffee'' (1991) * ''Party: Music That Cooks'' (1992) * ''Dinner'' (1992) * ''Romance'' (1992) * ''Impressions'' (1993) * ''Sunday Morning Coffee II'' (1994) * ''Party 2'' (1995) * ''Holiday Musik'' (1996) * ''Holiday Musik II'' (1997) * ''Romance II'' (1997) * ''Chip Davis Presents: Renaissance Holiday'' (1998) As Mannheim Steamroller * see Mannheim Steamroller

References

External links

* Biography in allmusic.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Chip 1947 births Living people Interlochen Center for the Arts alumni American rock musicians American male composers 21st-century American composers Mannheim Steamroller members People from Henry County, Ohio Grammy Award winners University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance alumni People from Meigs County, Ohio People from Sylvania, Ohio 21st-century American male musicians