Member of Nashville Brass Danny Davis dies in Nashville Grammy-winning horn player Danny Davis, who popularized the use of horns in country music and whose Nashville Brass stands as one of Music City’s best known instrumental ensembles, died today at 5:40 p.m. at St. Thomas Hospital, at age 83. Born in Dorchester, Mass., Mr. Davis was a trumpet soloist for the Massachusetts All State Symphony Orchestra before turning 15. He went on the road with famed jazz drummer Gene Krupa’s combo, and spent his early professional years playing in the big bands of Krupa, Art Mooney, Freddy Martin and Bob Crosby. Three times, Mr. Davis won Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scout show. .
| Mr. Davis was also doing production work, and in 1962 he began recording pop singer Connie Francis in Nashville for MGM. Those sessions resulted in six No. 1 singles. During his stint at MGM, Mr. Davis also brought British Invasion band Herman’s Hermits to the label. In 1965, Mr. Davis moved to RCA and worked out of New York. Three years later, he headed south again to Nashville, where he produced records for RCA including Waylon Jennings’ Grammy-winning “MacArthur Park” and Don Gibson’s country smash “Rings of Gold.” During this time, Mr. Davis convinced RCA Nashville chief Chet Atkins that horns could have a significant place in country music. The first Nashville Brass album was released in 1968, and a follow-up the next year beat out Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Bob Dylan and Tommy Allsup in winning a best country instrumental Grammy. Beginning in 1969, the Nashville Brass triumphed as the Country Music Association’s top instrumental group, and the band’s crossover-ready sound helped Mr. Davis to secure performance slots on television programs hosted by Ed Sullivan, Dinah Shore, Red Skelton and many others. Mr. Davis also took his Nashville Brass around the world, helping to extend Nashville’s reputation across the globe and also helping to broaden the scope and texture of country music
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