March 27, 2006 — Funeral services are scheduled Saturday for singer and tourism promoter Leroy "Sonny" Davis, who died March 23 in Florida. He was 66.
Davis was born on St. Thomas to Adina and Moses Davis and, according to longtime friend and broadcaster Lee Carle, showed a young talent for singing and dancing. "He started singing at an early age and developed a versatile singing style," Carle said.
Edwin Davis, Sonny's brother, said, "Thanks to his manager, Lee Carle, who introduced him to several music producers, [it was] possible for him to work with such groups as the Drifters, Delfonics and the Stylistics."
Much of Davis's singing career took place in New York, but at an earlier stage he was part of a dance group directed by Carle, performing at the Virgin Islands Hotel. For a number of years he was the lead singer in a group called Sonny and the Isles.
Davis entered the Army in 1958 and received an honorable discharge two years later. His tourism career began a little while later, first with a small airline and much later with the V.I. Department of Tourism.
In between he returned to New York, working with troubled students in the public school system.
In 2004 Davis retired after 15 years at the Tourism Department. At his retirement luncheon on St. Thomas, co-workers recalled how Davis was always willing to provide a song at many of the special occasions they attended as part of their work.
Some of his family and closest friends say Sonny Davis will always be remembered for his upbeat take on life. "This is the best day of my life," was a term, Carle said, he frequently employed.
Davis is survived by three children, Latoya, Maurice and Alex; two adopted children, Lawanda and Lee; and 20 grandchildren.
Funeral services are tentatively set for Saturday at the Covenant Christian Center, near the Western Cemetery on St. Thomas.