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Raymond Davis (March 29, 1940 – July 5, 2005) was the original bass singer and one of the founding members of The Parliaments, and subsequently the bands Parliament, and Funkadelic, collectively known as P-Funk. His regular nickname while he was with those groups was "Sting Ray" Davis. Aside from George Clinton, he was the only original member of the Parliaments not to leave the Parliament-Funkadelic conglomerate in 1977. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Biography

He was born in Sumter, South Carolina to Julius and Carrie Bell (Pack) Davis, and worked with Roger Troutman and Zapp in the early to mid-1980s. His distinctive bass can be heard on "I Can Make You Dance," and "Do Wa Ditty." He was also briefly in a later period line-up of The Temptations, joining after the death of original bass singer Melvin Franklin, and appearing on the 1995 album For Lovers Only. Davis left the group after being diagnosed with throat cancer. In later years, he performed with former Temptation Glenn Leonard in Leonard's group, The Temptations Experience. And in 1998, along with original Parliament-Funkadelic members Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins, Calvin Simon, and "Shady Grady" Thomas, he formed the Original P.

Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 5, 2005, at the age of 65, of respiratory problems.

References

1. MacKenzie, A. (2009). The Life and Times of the Motown Stars. Together Publications LLP. ISBN 978-1-84226-014-2. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
2. "Ray Davis". The Daily Telegraph. July 14, 2005. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
3. "Ray Davis, 65, Veteran Member of P-Funk, Is Dead". The New York Times. July 8, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2024.

External links

• Interview with Ray Davis
• Ray Davis discography at Discogs

v t e Parliament-Funkadelic
Jerome "Bigfoot" Brailey George Clinton Bootsy Collins Ray Davis Ramon "Tiki" Fulwood Glenn Goins Michael Hampton Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins Eddie Hazel Walter "Junie" Morrison Cordell "Boogie" Mosson "Billy Bass" Nelson Garry Shider Calvin Simon Grady Thomas Bernie Worrell
Parliament discography	Osmium Up for the Down Stroke Chocolate City Mothership Connection The Clones of Dr. Funkenstein Live: P-Funk Earth Tour Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome Motor Booty Affair Gloryhallastoopid Trombipulation Medicaid Fraud Dogg
Funkadelic discography	Funkadelic Free Your Mind... and Your Ass Will Follow Maggot Brain America Eats Its Young Cosmic Slop Standing on the Verge of Getting It On Let's Take It to the Stage Tales of Kidd Funkadelic Hardcore Jollies One Nation Under a Groove Uncle Jam Wants You Connections & Disconnections The Electric Spanking of War Babies Live: Meadowbrook, Rochester, Michigan – 12th September 1971 By Way of the Drum Toys U.S. Music with Funkadelic First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate
George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic	Computer Games Urban Dancefloor Guerillas You Shouldn't-Nuf Bit Fish Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends R&B Skeletons in the Closet The Mothership Connection – Live from Houston The Cinderella Theory Live at the Beverly Theater Hey, Man, Smell My Finger Dope Dogs Mothership Connection Newberg Session T.A.P.O.A.F.O.M. Live 1976–1993 How Late Do U Have 2BB4UR Absent? George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love Live...Capitol Theatre 1978
Bootsy Collins	Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band Ahh... The Name Is Bootsy, Baby! Bootsy? Player of the Year This Boot Is Made for Fonk-N Ultra Wave The One Giveth, the Count Taketh Away What's Bootsy Doin'? Jungle Bass Blasters of the Universe Lord of the Harvest Keepin' dah Funk Alive 4-1995 Fresh Outta 'P' University Live in Louisville 1978 Play with Bootsy Live in Concert 1998 Live in Oklahoma 1976 Christmas Is 4 Ever Tha Funk Capital of the World
Eddie Hazel	Game, Dames and Guitar Thangs Rest in P
The Horny Horns	A Blow for Me, a Toot to You Say Blow by Blow Backwards The Final Blow
Bernie Worrell	All the Woo in the World Funk of Ages Pieces of Woo: The Other Side Blacktronic Science Free Agent: A Spaced Odyssey
The Brides of Funkenstein	Funk or Walk Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy Live at the Howard Theatre
Parlet	Pleasure Principle Invasion of the Booty Snatchers Play Me or Trade Me
Clarence "Fuzzy" Haskins	A Whole Nother Thang (1976) Radio Active (1978) A Whole Nother Radio Active Thang (1994)
Ruth Copeland	Self Portrait (1970) I Am What I Am (1971) Take Me to Baltimore (1976)
Mutiny	Mutiny on the Mamaship (1979) Funk Plus the One (1980) A Night Out With the Boys (1983) Aftershock 2005 (1996)
Other spinoffs	Quazar (1978) Sweat Band (1980) Federation of Tackheads (1985) Lifestyles of the Roach and Famous (1988) Out of the Dark (1993) Funkcronomicon (1995) Heavy Metal Funkason (1998)
Filmography	PCU Parliament-Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove George Clinton: The Mothership Connection
Related articles	Parliament Funkadelic House Guests Godmoma Kiddo Original P The Pacemakers The Parliaments Zapp (Roger Troutman) List of P-Funk members Pedro Bell Armen Boladian Bridgeport Music Children of Production Bill Laswell Overton Loyd P-Funk P-Funk Earth Tour P-Funk Mothership P-Funk mythology P-Funk projects Uncle Jam Records G-funk
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