Lenny Davidson
Introduction '''Leonard Arthur Davidson''' (born 30 May 1944 in Enfield, Middlesex, England) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for the Dave Clark Five.
Biography === Early life ===Davidson was born in Enfield as one of three children. He started playing the guitar when he was a teenager. After leaving school, he worked at a company that made steel pipes.=== The Dave Clark Five ===Lenny (far right) with the Dave Clark Five on leftIn 1961 he joined 'The Dave Clark Five with Stan Saxon', the forerunner of The Dave Clark Five. According to Mike Smith (the DC5's lead singer and keyboardist), Dave Clark was looking for a lead guitarist and asked Smith if he knew anybody. Smith recommended Davidson saying there was no one better. Smith and Davidson had worked together in a previous band.In 1963, the Dave Clark Five signed to EMI and released their debut album ''Glad All Over'' in March 1964.In total, the group appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show 18 times, more than any over British Invasion group. He was one of three members of the group who wrote songs. The Dave Clark Five were big competitors with The Beatles during 1963 and 1964, knocking many of their songs off the number one spot on numerous music charts. He wrote their 1965 hit "Catch Us If You Can", and contributed five more tunes on the Catch Us If You Can soundtrack album, although Davidson was the only member of the group not to have one single line of dialogue in the film. The Dave Clark Five were one of the first leading groups in The British Invasion, cultural phenomenon of the mid-1960s, when rock and pop acts from the United Kingdom and other aspects of British culture became popular in the United States. He co-wrote five songs, including "Crying Over You" and "When" to their 1965 ''Coast to Coast'' album, and sang lead on the 1967 hit "Everybody Knows" which reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. Lenny sang co-lead with Smith on their Because. The Dave Clark Five sold more than 100 million records and scored 15 consecutive Top 20 U.S. hit singles. The Dave Clark Five broke up in 1970, but was quickly reformed by Clark and Smith as "Dave Clark and Friends", albeit without Davidson, Huxley, and Payton.=== Personal life ===After the Dave Clark Five broke up in 1970, Davidson later relearned the guitar and became a music teacher in Hertfordshire, and also owned a company that provided repair and maintenance services for church organs. He also owned an Antique shop, as stated by Mike Smith. Following the death of Clark Five bassist Rick Huxley on 11 February 2013, Davidson and Clark are the last surviving members.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Davidson was inducted as part of the group into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2008 along with the then fellow surviving band members Dave Clark and Rick Huxley. Mike Smith died 11 days before the ceremony from Pneumonia aged 64.Davidson mentioned that they arrived in New York City for the ceremony on 8 March, exactly 44 years after the group's first appearance on ''The Ed Sullivan Show''. Lenny also told a story of when the five went to see Ella Fitzgerald perform at the same hall the ceremony was held at, and the audience having to evacuate when a curtain caught fire from a lit cigarette.
Discography === With The Dave Clark Five ===Davidson (far right) with the Dave Clark Five on The Dean Martin Show in September 1965==== Albums ====TitleAlbum details''A Session with the Dave Clark Five''* Released: April 1964* Label: Columbia* Formats: LP''Catch Us If You Can''* Released: July 1965* Label: Columbia* Formats: LP''Everybody Knows''* Released: 15 December 1967* Label: Columbia* Formats: LP, reel-to-reel''5 by 5''* Released: 1 November 1968* Label: Columbia* Formats: LP''If Somebody Loves You''* Released: December 1970* Label: Columbia* Formats: LP==== EPs ====TitleEP details''The Dave Clark Five''* Released: December 1963* Label: Columbia* Formats: 7"''Hits of the Dave Clark Five''* Released: December 1964* Label: Columbia* Formats: 7"''Wild Weekend''* Released: September 1965* Label: Columbia* Formats: 7"==== Singles ====TitleYear"I Knew It All the Time"b/w "That's What I Said"1962"Chaquita"b/w "In Your Heart""First Love"b/w "I Walk the Line""The Mulberry Bush"b/w "Chaquita"1963"Do You Love Me"b/w "Doo-Dah""Glad All Over"b/w "I Know You""Bits and Pieces"b/w "All of the Time"1964"Can't You See That She's Mine"b/w "Because" (UK); "No Time to Lose" (US)"Thinking of You Baby"b/w "Whenever You're Around""Because"b/w "Can't You See That She's Mine""Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)"b/w "Say You Want Me" (UK); "Ol' Sol" (US)"Any Way You Want It"b/w "Crying Over You""Come Home"b/w "Mighty Good Loving" (UK); "Your Turn to Cry" (US)1965"Reelin' and Rockin'"b/w "Little Bitty Pretty One" (UK); "I'm Thinking" (US)"I Like It Like That"b/w "Hurting Inside""Catch Us If You Can"b/w "Move On" (UK); "On the Move" (US)"Over and Over"b/w "I'll Be Yours (My Love)""Having a Wild Weekend"b/w "No Stopping""At the Scene"b/w "I Miss You"1966"Try Too Hard"b/w "All Night Long""Look Before You Leap"b/w "Please Tell Me Why""Satisfied with You"b/w "Don't Let Me Down""Nineteen Days"b/w "I Need Love" (UK); "Sitting Here Baby" (US)"I've Got to Have a Reason"b/w "Good Time Woman""You Got What It Takes"b/w "Sitting Here Baby" (UK); "Doctor Rhythm" (US)1967"Tabatha Twitchit"b/w "Man in a Pin-Striped Suit""You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby"b/w "Man in a Pin Striped Suit""A Little Bit Now"b/w "You Don't Play Me Around""Red and Blue"b/w "Concentration Baby""Everybody Knows"b/w "Concentration Baby" (UK); "Inside and Out" (US)"No One Can Break a Heart Like You"b/w "You Don't Want My Lovin'"1968"Please Stay"b/w "Forget""The Red Balloon"b/w "Maze of Love""Live in the Sky"b/w "Children""The Mulberry Tree"b/w "Small Talk"1969"Paradise (Is Half as Nice)"b/w "34-06""If Somebody Loves You"b/w "Best Day's Work""Put a Little Love in Your Heart"b/w "34-06""Good Old Rock 'n' Roll"b/w "Good Old Rock 'n' Roll (Part 2)""Bring It On Home to Me"b/w "Darling, I Love You""Everybody Get Together"b/w "Darling I Love You"1970"Julia"b/w "Five by Five""Here Comes Summer"b/w "Break Down and Cry""More Good Old Rock 'n' Roll"b/w "More Good Old Rock 'n' Roll (Part 2)""Southern Man"b/w "If You Wanna See Me Cry"1971"Won't You Be My Lady"b/w "Into Your Life"
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