Avery is a walking miracle who carries on the legacy of his great-grandfather, Maxwell Davis. Maxwell Davis was a renowned American R&B saxophonist, arranger, and record producer known as the “Father of the West Coast R&B.” He collaborated with various legends of the music industry, such as BB King, Etta James, ZZ Hill, Louis Armstrong, and many more. Avery finds his great-grandfather, Maxwell Davis, as his greatest inspiration. BB King, interviewed by the New York Times,
“Maxwell was a kind of tutor to me,” Mr. King said.
“He always gave advice. I was like a sponge, and I didn’t know much and wanted to learn. I always wish that he could still be alive. I learned about being a bandleader from him. He was, to me, the best blues arranger - he was a great arranger, period.”
Louis Armstrong recorded his final masterpiece, the iconic track "When You Wish Upon a Star," in 1968. This song was included in his album "Disney Songs, the Satchmo Way," for which Maxwell Davis served as the orchestrator. If you'd like to listen to the track, here's a link youtu.be/uReGn1l4ir8 . During the recording session, Louis Armstrong expressed great admiration for Maxwell Davis and even wrote a letter to Tutti Camarata, the producer of the album, praising Davis.
“This goldarned ‘Wish Upon a Star’ is so beautiful and more than that, man—I listen to that tune three or four times at night. Man, did you know I’m a doggoned long-time wishing cat?
"Well I am, man."
“Tell Maxwell (Davis, who did the arrangements) what a great job he did. That man’s got a soul. (A soul Br’er!) Tutti you are in there yourself. Being one fine trumpet man yourself, you’re bound to get the right sounds ‘n everything “nice” musically in your inimitable way. (Did that come out of me?) That’s it Daddy – nobody mess with those “ears” you have for music."
“I haven’t enjoyed anything better than our recording sessions since — well, I can’t remember when.”
Pic.Twitter.Com/Jg154vgwxv.” Twitter, Twitter, 16 May 2020, twitter.com/ArmstrongHouse/status/1261755576775819264.
Disneyavenue. “Louis Armstrong.” Disneyavenue, 3 Aug. 2015, disneyavenue.wordpress.com/category/louis-armstrong/.
Watrous, Peter. “Pop/Jazz; B.B. King: Making the Most of a Lifetime of Experience.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Feb. 1990, www.nytimes.com/1990/02/02/arts/pop-jazz-bb-king-making-the-most-of-a-lifetime-of-experience.html.
Avery Dixon
Avery Dixon
Davis toured with Louis Jordan’s band and wrote arrangements for them after their music was lost in a fire. He traveled with his wife, Adelia, while playing with the band. Davis performed at the Apollo Theater around 1955.
Terry Crews tells why he admires Avery.
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