Lew Davies (25 September 1911 - 11 December 1968) was an American bandleader, composer and arranger, long associated with Enoch Light's Command Records.
Davies was born Lewis A. Davies in 1911 at Ashland, Kentucky. He attended the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and later studied composition with the noted teacher, Tibor Serly. He began arranging for dance bands in 1928 including the Tommy Tucker band and also worked in radio as well.
A half-hour musical variety radio program, It’s Wheeling Steel debuted over WWVA in Wheeling on November 8, 1936. Conceived and produced by the Wheeling Steel Corporation’s advertising director, John L. Grimes, the program’s purpose was to promote public relations and serve as a vehicle for advertising the corporation’s products. The program’s content consisted of light classics, popular songs, and show tunes, performed by The Steelmakers Orchestra, which consisted of local musicians, as well as an assortment of amateur ‘‘headliner’’ performers, all of whom were drawn from the corporation’s extended family of employees.  |
| John L, Grimes with Lew Davies |
World War II, the show supported the war effort by encouraging listeners to buy bonds. One program, broadcast from West Virginia University’s field house, generated $663,000 for the “Buy a Bomber”campaign.
The program was at the height of its popularity when it was discontinued in 1944, primarily due to Grimes’s declining health. Davies found employment wrighting arrangements for Perry Como’s “Chesterfield Hour” which was broadcast live from the New Yorks fancy Chesterfield Club.
Here’s “Riders In The Sky” from above 1961 album.
There's almost no trace left of Lew Davies except for his arrangements on the "Persuasive Percussion" series and most of the rest of Command's records. Enoch Light certainly contributed the inspiration and technical genius behind the Command style, but Davies, not Light, receives the arranger credit on the majority of Command's releases.
Lew Davies died in New York City, New York 11 December 1968
(Edited from Spaceagepop and Wheeling Heritage.org)