Davis, Buster

Buster Davis was an active musical director and vocal arranger for Broadway theatrical productions from the 1940s through the 1980s.

He was educated at Princeton and later arranged and directed numerous productions composed by Jule Styne, including Funny Girl and Bells are Ringing. His musical Doctor Jazz, for which he wrote the music and lyrics and served as musical director and vocal arranger, had a short run on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1975. Mr. Davis also wrote special material for many television shows, including the Bell Telephone Hour featuring the Buster Davis Singers and the Art Carney Show. In his later years Buster Davis taught courses on the American musical theatre and vocal arranging, where he shared his personal and musical knowledge of songwriters such as Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne, Vincent Youmans, and many others.

From the description of Buster Davis scores, 1929-1987. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 83357351

Buster Davis (1918-1987), educated at Princeton University, was an active Musical Director and Vocal Arranger for Broadway theatrical productions from the 1940s through the 1980s. Buster Davis arranged and directed numerous productions composed by Jule Styne, including Funny Girl and Bells Are Ringing . His musical Doctor Jazz, for which he wrote the music and lyrics and served as Musical Director and Vocal Arranger, had a short run on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1975.

Mr. Davis also wrote special material for many television shows, including the Bell Telephone Hour featuring the Buster Davis Singers and the Art Carney Show . In his later years Buster Davis taught courses on The American Musical Theatre and Vocal Arranging, where he shared his personal and musical knowledge of songwriters such as Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne, Vincent Youmans, and many others.

Sources:

“Davis, Buster.” ASCAP Biographical Dictionary. 4th ed. New York: Jacques Cattell Press, 1980.

“Buster Davis.” The Internet Broadway Database. (accessed 27 July 2004), <www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=4628>

From the guide to the Buster Davis scores, 1929-1987, (The New York Public Library. Music Division.)