There he lived in the predominantly-Black area of the city known as "Black Bottom" and took guitar lessons from Bosie Gatlin, who taught him how to play Muddy Waters' song "Baby, Please Don't Go".
[2] Hooker in turn introduced Davis and Jackie Wilson, who became close friends and collaborated musically throughout their lives.
[2] In 1957, after graduating from Miller High School in Detroit,[1] he formed Billy Davis & The Upsetters, and they worked for Motown founder Berry Gordy, backing up musicians such as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.
[7] Davis was considered an actual Midnighter alongside the singers, and not just a member of the backing band, because of his ability to play and sing, and also do the group's dance routines.
[5][10] In late 1960, while in Memphis during a stop on their tour, Elvis Presley dispatched two state troopers to Crump Stadium where Hank Ballard and The Midnighters were playing at to bring them to his Graceland mansion for a meetup.
[6] In 1962, Davis was drafted in to the United States Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for basic training before heading to South Korea for thirteen months.
[1] Davis then moved back to New York, where he did more session work, playing on recordings by many acts including Martha Reeves & the Vandellas.
[5][16] In 1983, Sam & Dave called on Davis to put together a band to back them at a concert at Pine Knob, where they were opening for James Brown.
[22] In 2015, Davis, as a member of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
Billy Davis)[25] and perform at the 2017 Ann Arbor Blues and Jazz Festival as Neals featured guest.
On October 12, 2017, Davis was honored with a "70 over 70" award, for his achievements in advancement of art, at a ceremony that was held at The historic Roostertail restaurant in Detroit, Michigan.
[28] He is a key featured musician in the feature-length documentary film, Paradise Boogie, released in 2018 chronicling the past, present and future of Detroit blues.