NOTES ABOUT TERRY DAVIS
Born in Vancouver, Washington to parents Bobby & Dorothy Davis, Terry grew up in a very musical environment along with his sister, Marla influenced by his Dad’s love of Jazz and Mom’s love of Gospel music.
While yet young, Terry began singing at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon where he started the course for his musical journey. Being blessed with the gift to hear & teach harmony at a young age, he began directing New Hope’s Angel Choir for a period, and then in 1978, God anointed and added to Terry the gift to play the piano by ear (without formal training). Now able to play, Terry worked with the choirs of New Hope and other community/workshop choirs in the Portland-Vancouver area.
1983 brought about Terry’s genesis as a songwriter. Since that time, he’s been blessed to share his music on a local, regional, and national level. Terry’s music has been performed or recorded by artists Portland Mass Choir (1995), Pacific Northwest Mass Choir (1994), New Song Church, (1995), Minister David Hart & BASIC (1996), GMWA Youth Mass Choir (1998, 2000, 2001),GMWA Men of Promise (2002), and the Northwest Community Gospel Chorus (for the Oregon Symphony’s “Gospel Christmas”).
Terry’s also been privileged to work alongside some well-known artists in the Gospel industry such as Thomas Whitfield, Jeffrey LaValley, Rev. Milton Biggham, Rickey Grundy, David Curry, Helen Stephens, Dr. Margaret Douroux, the late Dr. Charles Fold, and LaShun Pace.
Terry first acknowledges the Lord for the many opportunities to share his musical gifts, family and friends for encouragement and prayers, and also his musical mentors Thomas Whitfield and Jeffrey LaValley for inspring him as a songwriter/musician. Terry also draws musical influences from artists Stevie Wonder, Alex Bugnon, Joe Sample, and Rodney Franklin.
In 2001, Terry made the move eastward to Columbus, Ohio to serve as Second Baptist Church’s Minister of Music. Later that year, he met his soulmate Jennifer Hammond, and the two became one in June 2003. Terry continues his GMWA ties as a member of the Columbus Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, and has been a featured instructor for the Columbus Children’s Music Ministry Workers Conference, featured songwriter for the New Salem Baptist Church live recording “We Win” (2001), and Columbus Citywide Mass Choir concert in December 2004.
Currently, Terry serves as Minister of Music for the Worship Center of Central Ohio (Rev. David S. Carter, Pastor), and Music Director for Ohio Wesleyan University’s Gospel Lyres. He is also his starting his music business, Praise Place Music, and plans to release his debut CD “A Songwriter’s Dream” in April 2007
Terry’s desire is to see God take his music all over the U.S. and the world to encourage believers, witness to the lost, and most of all, bring God glory, praise, and honor for giving to him the gift of music.
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