Benny Davis was born in New York City on August 21, 1895. He started performing in vaudeville acts when he was 14 years old and later performed as Blossom Seeley’s accompanist with Benny Fields’ tours. In the early 1920’s, he dedicated himself to professional songwriting and had his first hit in 1920 with “Margie”.
In 1927, Davis returned to the theatre writing score for the Broadway shows Artists and Models of 1927, Sons o’ Guns, and 3 editions of Cotton Club revues.
Davis collaborated with several songwriters including Milton Ager, Harry Akst, Con Conrad, Nathaniel Skilkret, J. Fred Coots, Billy Baskette, Arthur Swanstrom, Ted Murry and J. Russel Robinson.
Davis’ catalog is one of the most prolific of his era with such hits as “I Still Get A Thrill (Thinking of You)”, “Carolina Moon”, “The Day I Met You”, “That’s How I Feel About You”, “Oh, How I Miss You Tonight”, “Baby Face”, “There Goes My Heart”, “Yearning”, “Cross Your Fingers”, “It’s You I Love”, “Lonesome and Sorry”, “I’m Nobody’s Baby”, “Chasing Shadows”, “Sweetheart”, “With These Hands”, “Make Believe”, “Angel Child”, “Lost a Wonderful Girl”, “A Smile Will Go a Long, Long Way”, “You Started Me Dreaming”, “To You”, “When Will the Sun Shine for Me”, “Patricia”, “Baby’s First Christmas”, “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You”, “Say It While Dancing”, “The Old Mill Wheel”, “Follow the Boys”, “This Is My Happiest Moment” and “There’s No Other Girl”.
Benny Davis died in Miami, Florida on December 20, 1979.
Wrote the score for 1927s "Artists and Models" on Broadway
