Meyer Davis (musician)

Meyer Davis

Picture of musician Meyer Davis

Born|

Meyer L Davis

9 January 1892

Ellicott City, Maryland, U.S.

Died| 6 April 1976(1976-04-06) (aged 84)

New York City, U.S.

Citizenship| United States
Occupation| Musician
Spouse| Hilda Emery Davis (Hodgkins)
Children| Virginia Davis
Meyer Davis Jr
Sol Gareth Davis
Emery Davis
Marjorie Davis[1]

Meyer Davis (9 January 1892 – 6 April 1976) was a society musician in the 1920s to 1960s who at the height of his career owned and operated over 80 bands with more than 1,000 musicians playing for him.[2]

## Early life

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Davis was born in Ellicott City, Maryland, to Solomon David and Rose Benjamin. His parents were of Russian Jewish ancestry from what is today Lithuania and Latvia. Davis, who began taking violin lessons as a child, began his musical career while a law student. From 1917 to 1930, Davis became the manager of the Chevy Chase Lake resort providing dance orchestras that appeared regularly through the vacation season.[3]

## Career

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In 1915, Davis founded his first band, which was eventually named the Meyer Davis Orchestra.

Davis became a major player in the society music scene in the East Coast of the United States in the 1950s and 60s.[4] He played a wide range of events from balls to presidential galas and inaugurations for presidents including Gerald Ford, Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt.[5][6]

Davis died in 1976 at his home in 101 Central Park West in New York City.[7] The archive of his career is now held at the University of Maine's Fogler Library.[6]

## Family

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Davis married composer and musician Hilda Emery, who also played piano in his band.[8]

The couple's oldest child, Virginia, was a noted soprano and performed across the United States.[9] Davis's second son Garry Davis was a controversial international peace activist.[10] Davis's youngest son Emery Davis (1923–2018) took over his band after his retirement and continued operating as an accomplished musician in his own right into the 1990s.[11][12]

## References

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1. ^ Raymond H. Fogler Library. "Meyer Davis Family Portrait circa 1932". DigitalCommons@UMaine. Raymond H. Fogler Library, DigitalCommons@UMaine.
2. ^ "Music: Businessman Band Leader". Time. 20 January 1941. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
3. ^ "Music by Meyer Davis, 1916-1930 | Chevy Chase Historical Society". www.chevychasehistory.org. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
4. ^ "Meyer Davis & His Orchestra Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
5. ^ "Meyer Davis". www.spaceagepop.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
6. ^ a b "Collection: Meyer Davis Collection | Fogler Library Special Collections and Archives ArchivesSpace". archives.library.umaine.edu. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
7. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (6 April 1976). "Meyer Davis, Orchestra Leader, Dies". The New York Times. p. 38.
8. ^ "Music: Businessman Band Leader". TIME. 20 January 1941. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
9. ^ "CONCERT ARTIST". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. 21 February 1951. p. 3. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
10. ^ Chawkins, Steve (1 August 2013). "Garry Davis dies at 91; World Citizen No. 1 and advocate for peace". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
11. ^ "Jrazz: Emery Davis Conducts Whiteman Revival". New York Times. 31 October 1976. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
12. ^ "Emery Davis – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 22 October 2023.