Charles Davis
First Tenor, Second Tenor, Baritone, Bass and Lead
He was born Robert Charles Davis on April 22, 1953 in Jackson,
Mississippi. When he was ten years old, his family moved to
Detroit. His parents were both music lovers. His mother sang
in a church choir and his father was a guitar player. Blues
and gospel music were his love, and he and his brothers were
motivated to pursue music at a very early age.
Charles attended Southeastern High School before joining
the United States Navy from 1969 through 1971, serving in
Vietnam. Upon his return, Charles turned to music.
Inspired by such groups as The Temptations, The Originals,
The Dells, and The Four Tops, Charles and his two brothers,
Moses and Leonard (Pee Wee) 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. They 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 Charles returned to military service.
He 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 he returned to Saran Industries,
where he had worked before he enlisted. He also went back
to school, majoring in Chemistry (paint formulation). Even
though he became the plant manager at his day job, he still
managed to sing at parties, but not as often as he would have
liked.
One day while sitting around with some friends singing different
songs he met a young man named Martin (Bennie) Upshire who,
at the time, was the lead singer for THE CONTOURS. They became
good friends. Shortly afterward, on November 11, 1984, Bennie
invited Charles to audition for THE CONTOURS to replace Arthur
Hinson, who was leaving the group. He accepted and found himself
sharing the stage with Joe Billingslea, an original member
of THE CONTOURS that had inspired him as a young man.
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