Detroit music legend and celebrated singer-songwriter Thornetta Davis will perform at The Ark on January 29, promising an evening to uplift and connect on multiple levels.
Davis feels her show brings people to a better place. “Because if they want to feel good, my show will be a feel-good show,” Davis said. “It’ll lift up some spirits. And it might bring you some sad moments if you remember some things. Because I’m coming from personal perspective with original song, it’ll take you up and down. But for the most part, when you leave there (The Ark), you leave there in a good mood.”
Davis describes her style as a blend of several musical genres rooted in her Detroit upbringing.
“I’ve been called funky rock and blues,” Davis said. “And all kind of directions, because I’m from Detroit. In Detroit, we touch base on everything. So not just blues, it’s funky, rock and blues.”
Her influences stretch across different eras and styles, with one particular artist leaving a significant mark on her early singing.
“Coming up as a young girl, I used to love to sing a lot of top 40,” Davis said. “And one of the artists that impressed me the most was Phyllis Hyman. I used to love how she would have clarity in her song, and you can understand what she was saying. She was always singing from my heart…So she was a major influence on my styles of performing.”
As she matured, Davis developed an appreciation for the Blues, citing Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey among her inspirations.
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“And I realized Blues is life music,” Davis said. “and you had to live life for you to understand it.”
Her own life experiences have significantly shaped her art. “When I started singing, I was on welfare, and I was worried how I would pay my bills,” Davis said. “Trying to sing, and I wouldn’t care, cosmetology classes, I was gonna be a secretary, anything to pay the bills.”
Since 1988, Davis has been performing, writing and singing, spanning multiple musical domains — including rock:
“I put out an album with the Big Chief guys in 1996. It was on Sub Pop,” said Davis. “So I got an alternative rock album called Sunday Morning Music. That’s been out there. And some of the stuff’s been used on The Sopranos.”
She has also ventured into house and techno music:
“I love techno music and dance music,” Davis said. “That’s why I reached out to them. And I said ‘Hey I’d like a remix on this particular tune’ and they were willing to work with me. And they said yes.”
Even in France, Davis recalls a DJ mixing her music, causing the crowd to dance and embrace the moment.
Davis expresses particular affection for Ann Arbor, and especially The Ark: “I think The Ark is a great space,” Davis said. “And I’m so glad that they’ve managed to survive through all of the craziness that has been going on in the world. It’s still supporting live music and supporting artists. And as for me, being from Detroit, I consider myself sort of local. Even if I travel all over the world, for them to bring me to the Ark, I feel honored.”
Most recently, she performed two sold-out shows at the Blue Llama on New Year’s Eve. Among her repertoire, Davis highlights one of her most popular songs: “The one song that they played during the pandemic on every rotation was, ‘I Believe Everything’s Going to be All Right’,” Davis said. “And I believe they played that because it’s uplifting. And then another song, ‘Am I Just a Shadow,’ seems to be one of the fan favorites, especially men. They come up to me after I perform it with tears rolling down their face.”
As she looks forward to the January 29 show at The Ark, Davis says she hopes the audience will feel free to dance:
“I just want them to come, and I am thankful for them coming,” Davis said. “And I hope that even if they have to, need to, get up and dance — I don’t mind that at all. I love it.”
With her blend of blues, funk, rock and heartfelt storytelling, Thornetta Davis promises a performance that will leave fans energized and in high spirits — true to her Detroit roots and the rich musical legacy she represents.
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.