Background
Davis, Clifton Duncan was born on October 4, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Toussaint L'Overture Davis and Thelma Davis-Goring.
Davis, Clifton Duncan was born on October 4, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Toussaint L'Overture Davis and Thelma Davis-Goring.
Bachelor in Theology, Oakwood College, 1984. Master of Divinity, Andrews University, 1987. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Lincoln University, 1989.
Davis starred on the television shows That"s My Mama and Amen. Davis also wrote several hits for The Jackson 5, including "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Lookin" Through the Windows". He was raised in Mastic, New New York
In a piece he wrote for Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, he described the racism he suffered growing up during the pre-Civil Rights Acting era.
Before finding fame in acting, Davis worked as a songwriter, most famously penning The Jackson 5"s Number. 2 hit "Never Can Say Goodbye".
Davis starred as barber Clifton Curtis in the mid-1970s television show That"s My Mama with Theresa Merritt, Theodore Wilson and Ted Lange. Davis" romantic interest with songstress and Broadway performer Melba Moore led to his co-starring role on her musical variety television show.
Davis made a guest appearance on the third episode of the first season of The Bobby Vinton Show in September 1975, singing "I"ve Got The Music In Maine" and "Never Can Say Goodbye".
He successfully sang the Polish lyrics with Vinton to the show"s "My Melody of Love" theme song. A triple heart bypass survivor, he participated in the "superstars" celebrity television sports competitions of the seventies, in addition to making several appearances on the popular celebrity game show Match Game. He also appeared in the film Scott Joplin in 1977.
He also made numerous appearances on several incarnations of Pyramid from the early 1970s to the early 1990s.
From 1986 to 1991, he co-starred with Sherman Hemsley, as the Reverend Ruben Gregory, in the National Broadcasting Company sitcom Amen, which ran for five seasons. Davis released one acclaimed (and now hard to find) studio recording in 1991 on Benson Records titled Say Amen.
He also played the mayor of Miami in the 1999 film Any Given Sunday. Davis has continued his stage work, starring in Toronto and on Broadway in Aladdin, playing the Sultan of Agrabah." Davis holds a Bachelor in Theology from Oakwood University and a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University.
From 1987 to 1989, he was an Associate Pastor of the Loma Linda University Schools Development Authority Church in southern California.
Foreign the last 25 years he has been an active part of Youthville, United States of America a children"s services organization. Davis is a licensed minister by Saint Luke Baptist Church, New York, New New York He has had an interdenominational ministry for over 30 years.
He has served as National Spokesperson and Advisory Board Chairman.
He is the emcee and host of The Most Soulful Sound, an annual gospel choir competition in Raleigh, North Carolina. He also hosts an annual celebrity golf tournament in Elizabeth City, North Carolina at Elizabeth City State University, where he served as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement.
Since the end of 2005 Davis has held the position of Executive Director for Welcome America, a non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that produces the largest Fourth of July celebration each year in the nation. Davis is a frequent guest host on Trinity Broadcasting Network.
Davis also hosted the Gospel Superfest television show from 2000 to 2008, which is syndicated by United.
Davis is the author of an autobiographical essay entitled "A Mason Dixon Memory" in which he recounts his experiences as an eighth grader dealing with prejudice on a trip to a southern state.
Married Ann L. DeShae, November 24, 1981 (divorced May 1994). Children: Christian Noel, Holly Danielle. Married Monica D. Durant, May 27, 2000.