Bandleader Davis Dead At 83

Bandleader DANNY DAVIS has died following a cardiac arrest at a Nashville, Tennessee hospital. He was 83.

The leader of The Nashville Brass, Davis was a beloved country music icon, who claimed the Country Music Association's Instrumental Group of The Year award from 1969 to 1974.

And his album The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds earned the bandleader a Best Country Instrumental Performance Grammy in 1969.

Born George Nolan in Massachusetts, Davis began his professional music career playing trumpet in big bands led by Gene Krupa, Bob Crosby and Les Brown, among others.

He also scored a hit as a crooner - The Object of My Affection.

As a producer in the early 1960s, he was the man behind six Connie Francis number ones and he also went on to produce Waylon Jennings' Grammy-winning recording of MacArthur Park, according to CMT.com.

Davis assembled the Nashville Brass in the late 1960s and found national success with instrumental recordings of well-known country songs.

They were regulars on U.S. TV shows and also worked extensively in Las Vegas.