Richard Davis was a superb and prolific jazz bassist and possessed a rich, woody tone and excellent technique whether playing jazz, pop, or classical music. He served in world-class symphony orchestras, backed vocalists, and engaged in stunning duets. He appeared on three of the most iconic recordings of the 20th century: Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch!, Andrew Hill's Point of Departure, and Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. His Impulse leader debut, Heavy Sounds, appeared in 1967. During the '70s, session and live work were plentiful to the point of demanding, but Davis managed to release a number of important records during the decade, including 1971's The Philosophy of the Spiritual, 1973's Dealin', and Harvest and Cauldron in 1979. In 1977, he began a long tenure as an educator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Following 1980's Way Out West, he issued Persia My Dear in 1987. The Bassist: Homage to Diversity appeared in 2001. Blue Monk, with pianist Junior Mance, appeared in 2007. He was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2014.

Davis was born in Chicago in 1930. His first musical experience was serving as the bass singer in his family's vocal trio. He studied double bass in high school and was a member of Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (then known as the Youth Orchestra of Greater Chicago). He played in the orchestra's first performance at Chicago's Orchestra Hall in 1947. After graduating from high school, he studied double bass with Rudolf Fahsbender of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra while attending Van der Cook College of Music, where he received a degree in music education.

Davis worked with dance bands in Chicago's clubs and got his first jazz trio gig with Ahmad Jamal in 1952. Connections he developed on the scene led him to pianist Don Shirley in 1954. The pair relocated to New York City and recorded and performed together until 1956. In 1957, Davis joined Sarah Vaughan's rhythm section; he toured and recorded with the singer until 1962.

In the early '60s, Davis got busy on the Big Apple's jazz and classical scenes. His reputation spread and the work followed. In 1964 alone, he played on Eric Dolphy's Out to Lunch!, Andrew Hill's Point of Departure, Booker Ervin's The Song Book, and Tony Williams' Life Time. During the '60s, Davis worked alongside Ben Webster and Joe Zawinul, Roland Kirk, and Jaki Byard, among many others. Further, Davis got freelance work with symphony orchestras conducted by Leonard Bernstein and Igor Stravinsky, singer Carmen McRae, and vibist Cal Tjader. In 1967, Davis teamed with drummer Elvin Jones for his leader debut, Heavy Sounds, on Impulse. In 1968 he played bass on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. From 1968 to 1972, Davis was voted best jazz bassist by critics and readers of Downbeat; his wildly diverse playing provided support for everyone from Earl Hines and Jaki Byard to Creative Construction Company and Stan Getz.

In 1970, Davis issued Muses for Richard Davis on Germany's MPS label. He led an octet that included Sir Roland Hanna, Jimmy Knepper, Pepper Adams, Freddie Hubbard, and others. He also joined the New York Bass Violin Choir led by Bill Lee, with Ron Carter, Milt Hinton, and Sam Jones. In 1972, Davis released Philosophy of the Spiritual, a modal hard bop date on Cobblestone, with Chick Corea, Lee playing a second bass, Sonny Brown on drums, Frankie Dunlop on percussion, and Sam Brown on guitar. Davis was also a touring and recording member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. He did session work with country star Hank Locklin, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Biff Rose, Roy Ayers and Antonio Carlos Jobim, Donny Hathaway, Grover Washington, Jr., Bonnie Raitt, Harold Alexander, Laura Nyro, and Leon Thomas, among dozens of others.

In 1973, Davis issued Epistrophy and, as the New York Unit, Now's the Time on Muse -- the latter was a modal and vanguard jazz date that included saxophonist Clifford Jordan and trumpeter Marvin Hannibal Peterson -- the bassist returned the favor by appearing on their recordings. 1974's Dealin', a groove jazz and funk date, featured most of the same band. The following year, the bassist joined Jimmy Raney and Alan Dawson for Momentum on MPS. In 1976 he released As One on Muse, a duet offering with pianist Jill McManus. 1977's Fancy Free on Galaxy was conducted by Lee and included pianist Stanley Cowell, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, saxophonist Joe Henderson, and Cobham. Davis played more than 200 sessions during the '70s. In addition to appearing on Joe Chambers' classic The Almoravid, he joined the studio bands of pop singers Danny O'Keefe, Melissa Manchester, and Carly Simon.

Davis left New York in 1977 after more than 25 years to accept a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, educating students as a professor of music and music history. Concurrent with his life as an educator, he continued making records and appearances as a performer/sideman. In 1978 he recorded and released Divine Gemini with vibist Walt Dickerson for SteepleChase. Harvest, on Muse, appeared the same year. In 1979, he and saxophonist/clarinetist L.D. Levy independently released Cauldron.

In 1980, Davis released the oft-sampled jazz-funk date Way Out West, accompanied by Cobham, both Hendersons, and Cowell. The album won positive critical notice across the globe. In 1982, Davis played Tokyo's Aurex Jazz Festival with trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding, and at the 1984 Chicago Jazz Festival. He was featured in the 1982 film Jazz in Exile. In 1985, Davis and Dickerson issued Tenderness on SteepleChase. He also spent much of the early to middle part of the decade recording and touring with pianist Mal Waldron.

In the late '80s, Davis, pianist John Hicks, and drummer Tatsuya Nakamura co-founded New York Unit. Between 1991 and 1998, they issued eight highly acclaimed albums for Japan's King label, including Tribute to Great Tenors, Blue Bossa, Now's the Time, and Over the Rainbow. During that time he also managed to release I Remember Clifford in 1990 on Japan's DIW label with drummer Ronnie Burrage and pianist James Williams. The following year, Enja released Body and Soul, a 1983 duo recording with Archie Shepp. In 1993, Davis formed The Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists. It conducts an annual conference for young players to learn from professionals and perform with one another. Davis' Reminisces appeared on Simpatio Music in 1994.

In 2000, Davis established the Madison chapter of the Center for the Healing of Racism, an outgrowth of his founding the Retention Action Project at the University of Wisconsin in 1998 to improve graduation rates for students of color.

The Bassist: Homage to Diversity (a duo recording with John Hicks) appeared on Palmetto in 2001, followed by two Japanese releases on King: So in Love (also 2001) and 2008's Blue Monk (with pianist Junior Mance) in 2008. Davis retired from teaching in 2016. Two years later, "Richard Davis Lane", in Eastern Madison, was named in his honor. An increasingly ailing Davis entered hospice care in 2021; he died on September 9, 2023. He was 93.

—Thom Jurek (All Music Guide)