I was born Robert Charles Davis in Jackson, Mississippi. My family moved to Detroit, Michigan, when I was ten years old. My parents were both music lovers - my mother sang in a church choir and my father was a guitar player. Blues and gospel music were his love, and my brothers and I were motivated to pursue music at a very early age I attended Southeastern High School in Detroit before joining the United States Navy from 1969 through 1971, serving in Vietnam. Upon my return, I turned to music
Inspired by such groups as The Temptations, The Originals, The Dells, and The Four Tops, my two brothers, Moses and Leonard (Pee Wee), and I started a group called The Chosen Few. Alonso Mason, Reggie Royster and Ron Stafford (who later sang with C.P. Spencer's Originals and Detroit's Own Dynamics). were the other members. We won some local and high school talent shows. About 1972, the group turned professional. Sadly, within months, Moses was killed by street violence which was very common on the streets of Detroit at that time. By 1974, the group broke up and I returned to military service. I joined the Army and went on to start a group while stationed in Wurzburg, Germany. This group played all the major clubs and also worked for the U.S.O.
After leaving the service I returned to Saran Industries, where I had worked before I enlisted. I also went back to school, majoring in Chemistry (paint formulation). Even though I became the plant manager at my day job, I still managed to sing at parties, but not as often as I would have liked.
One day while sitting around with some friends singing different songs I met a young man named Martin (Bennie) Upshire who, at the time, was the lead singer for THE CONTOURS. We became good friends. Shortly afterward, on November 11, 1984, Bennie invited me to audition for THE CONTOURS to replace Arthur Hinson, who was leaving the group. I accepted and found myself sharing the stage with Joe Billingslea, an original member of THE CONTOURS, who had been one of my inspirations as a young man.
I have a strong sense of family and a passion for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God has truly blessed me with many, many talents, including the ability to take charge of any situation that occurs and the discipline to finish what I start. More importantly, I never forget the people that God has put in my circle of life. One of the gifts that God gave me is the ability to write and arrange music.
It is a thrill for me to be a member of THE CONTOURS
