It was a little surprising that the country-pop musician, Mac Davis passed away on the same day as Helen Reddy, who both enjoyed popularity throughout the 1970's, and at the exact same age of seventy-eight. The other connections these two singers had was the very first record Reddy released was a version of Davis' "I Believe In Music" and both had an eponymous variety show on television during the height of their fame. Davis died due to complications from heart surgery on September 29th.
He was born Morris Mac Davis on January 21, 1942 in Lubbock, TX and grew up with his sister and father who was divorced from their mother. Davis described him as "very strict and very religious". After he finished high school, Davis moved to Atlanta where his mother lived, largely to get out of Lubbock. It was here that he began to pursue music and formed a rock band called the Zots. They recorded a couple of singles that didn't get much attention.
Davis then got a job as a regional manager at Vee Jay Records, home to soul, jazz and blues artists. He later went to Liberty Records where he would begin songwriting and became a session player, most notably for Nancy Sinatra. Some of the songs Davis wrote were recorded by several artists and include "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy", "Watching Scotty Grow", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife" and two that became big hits for Elvis Presley, "A Little Less Conversation" and "In the Ghetto".
He soon decided to pursue a country music career as a performer and record his own material. After signing with Columbia Records in 1970, Davis released two albums before the title track of his third, "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" became a breakthrough and crossover hit in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Davis then got a job as a regional manager at Vee Jay Records, home to soul, jazz and blues artists. He later went to Liberty Records where he would begin songwriting and became a session player, most notably for Nancy Sinatra. Some of the songs Davis wrote were recorded by several artists and include "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy", "Watching Scotty Grow", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife" and two that became big hits for Elvis Presley, "A Little Less Conversation" and "In the Ghetto".
He soon decided to pursue a country music career as a performer and record his own material. After signing with Columbia Records in 1970, Davis released two albums before the title track of his third, "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" became a breakthrough and crossover hit in 1972, reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Davis would enjoy further success in music, with several charting songs and winning the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award in 1974, In addition to his variety show, Davis appeared on several television specials and series. He made his film debut in the football comedy-drama, "North Dallas Forty" with Nick Nolte in 1979 and also appeared in "Cheaper To Keep Her" and "The Sting II", an ill-advised sequel to the popular film.
Davis was married three times; He first married Fran Cook when he was twenty-one in 1963. They had a son, Joel a year later and the couple separated in 1968. Davis met Sarah Barg when she was sixteen and they waited two years before getting married in 1971. She left Davis for fellow musician, Glen Campbell in 1976 but left him shortly before giving birth to his child. Davis married twenty-four year old nurse, Lise Gerard in 1982 and they had two children, Noah and Cody.
Davis was married three times; He first married Fran Cook when he was twenty-one in 1963. They had a son, Joel a year later and the couple separated in 1968. Davis met Sarah Barg when she was sixteen and they waited two years before getting married in 1971. She left Davis for fellow musician, Glen Campbell in 1976 but left him shortly before giving birth to his child. Davis married twenty-four year old nurse, Lise Gerard in 1982 and they had two children, Noah and Cody.
