Hal Davis

Who was Hal Davis?

Harold Edward "Hal" Davis was an African American songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the key figure in the latter part of the Motown career of The Jackson 5.

Davis was the co-writer and producer of Jackson 5 hits such as "I'll Be There" and "Dancing Machine," and Eddie Kendricks' "Can I." Davis also produced for Bette Midler, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Brenda Holloway, Thelma Houston, Joy Holden, Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Little Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Junior Walker, and The Miracles.

Hal Davis was a producer and writer for Motown Records for nearly thirty years. He and Marc Gordon opened Mowest, Motown's west coast office division, in the late 1960s. He first had some regional hits with "Do The Del Viking" by Patrice Holloway and "Moment to Remember" by Jenell Hawkins on his own label.