Jefferson Wendell Davis (born November 28, 1950), known professionally as Jeff Davis and by the pen name J. W. Davis, is an American radio personality, voice actor, producer, and writer. He is best known for his association with WLS-AM in Chicago and his extensive voice-over and broadcast career in Los Angeles. He is widely recognized for his resonant bass-baritone voice and his dual role as both a CHR radio personality and has appeared as the primary imaging voice for major radio stations across North America, Canada and the UK. ^[1]

He was the international voice for Blockbuster video and contributed to the network promotion to the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards in 1995 while, at the same time, hosting afternoon drive on CHR outlet, KYSR (Star 98.7). Around this time he began hosting an international music show called, “On The Radio,” later distributed by Westwood One.

Davis has worked for major radio stations across the United States, appeared in six films as well as sound design for several feature films. written thousands of scripts, and founded Jeff Davis Productions, Inc.

The eldest of five children, his father left the family when he was five. His mother took her three children to Texas where she re-married. Her husband had lots of dreams but no plan and moved the family frequently during his childhood. At one time, they lived in a one room shack with a dirt floor. In the seven years his mother and stepfather were together, they lived all over the state of Texas and in 1960 moved to Glendale, California, eventually moving back to the Lone Star State. In his early teens, his mother split from her husband, and the family moved back to North Carolina. Jeff worked in a grocery store and in his grandfather’s tobacco fields to help her financially.

He attended Clayton High School, where he was recognized as one of the Ten Outstanding Students and was active as the school artist, contributing to the school newspaper, displays and the high school annual. He’s also done artwork for many stations he’s worked with, some gaining national prominence.

Leveraging a small scholarship and borrowed money, Jeff attended Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to study art with a major in Communication Arts & Design. While at VCU, Davis served as news director and on-air personality at the college radio station, WJRB-AM (James River Broadcasting), where he developed an interest in broadcasting that led to his professional career. (WJRB-AM was changed to WVCW-AM in the 1977). While at VCU, he was involved in activism for student rights and traveled with other students to several college campuses in the United States. This afforded him access to well-known political personalities of the time. ^[2]

His first professional radio job was at WABB in Mobile, Alabama hosting the all-night show and doing morning news. “I was excited to get that first job but it was funny to me that the guy I was replacing, Buddy Love, was quitting because he could make more money driving a truck,” Davis related. He later worked at WEAM-AM in Washington, D.C., and at WGH-AM in Newport-News, Virginia. WGH was owned by the Newport News Daily Press and Times-Herald news papers, so they had the money for top-notch facilities. WGH, patterned after WLS in Chicago, called itself “The Rock of Virginia.” WLS was the Rock of Chicago. It was a good fit for a Top 40 style that would later define Davis’s work in major markets — fast-paced, personality-driven, and music-focused.

Later, Jeff worked at several stations in the Los Angeles market with side work including being the national host for the Grammy’s on radio as well as hosting the nominees with co-hosts Olivia Newton-John and Quincy Jones. He also did numerous concert intros for everyone from Elton John to James Taylor. He hosted a live broadcast with the group Chicago at L.A.’s Brown Derby in 1995 to introduce their new album at the time, “Night and Day: Big Band.” ^[3]

In 1974, at age 23, Davis joined WLS-AM in Chicago as its Director of Special Projects, becoming one of the youngest personalities ever hired by the station. In that role, he filled in for a number of prominent radio personalities as well as hosting his own weekend air shift. During the "Big 89" era, he hosted the evening slot (10 p.m. - 2 a.m.) and became a staple of Chicago's airwaves. He also became known for a number of years as the host of their annual New Year’s Eve show, “The Big 89 Countdown.”

His association with WLS ultimately spanned more than four decades, and he became one of the station’s signature voices during both its MusicRadio Top 40 era and its later news–talk format.

During his time at WLS, Davis hosted national programs including:

• "America’s Music Voteline" (ABC Rock Network)
• "Musicpeople" (artist interview series)

Davis produced and narrated the retrospective special, "WLS: The MusicRadio Years, 1960–1985," in addition to producing many of the live segments and then fourteen years later, voiced and produced the WLS 75 th Anniversary Special in which he traveled to several states and interviewed many of the people who made WLS what it was in the early years. When the 100th Anniversary came in 2024, Jeff narrated and produced that as well^[4]

According to Davis, he helped bring early attention to Chicago band Styx by playing its song "Lady" on WLS, contributing to the group’s initial exposure.

The song was first released in July 1973. But it wasn't until Davis heard the song being played "over and over" on a jukebox at a Pizza Hut restaurant on the north side of Chicago in 1974 that it got his attention. At the time, Styx was a local Chicago area group with a struggling career, a legal battle with their record company (Wooden Nickel, distributed by RCA). Davis was convinced the song could be a hit.

“I pushed hard for that record and got it added to the list of songs we played. Styx would probably have done OK without my help but I was glad to get them that first national exposure. I’d like to think I made a difference.”

WLS airplay was instrumental in breaking "Lady" nationally. Most historians and the band members themselves acknowledge that WLS's decision to play "Lady" was the definitive turning point that broke the song nationally and led to their major contract with A&M Records. ^[5][6][7][8]

At the time, WLS was a massive powerhouse with a signal that reached more than 8 million listeners in 38 states, making its airplay critical for national exposure. Ultimately, the song hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1975.

Independent sources would be needed to verify the extent of that role.^[9]

Davis has built a massive career beyond the radio booth as one of the most prolific voiceover artists in the industry. In the early 1990s, Davis relocated to Los Angeles for acting work in the movie industry (seven films to his credit) and continued production work for several L.A. radio stations, including KNX FM (CBS), KRTH FM (then RKO) and then afternoon host on Viacom’s KYSR (Star 98.7).^[10]

Davis founded Jeff Davis Productions, Inc. based in Hollywood, California in August 1993 (in the shadows of the famous Hollywood sign) and began working full-time as a voice actor and producer. Known as a "fixture in voice imaging," he crafts the identity for stations across North America in all formats.^[11]

He has taken extensive acting and voice-over workshops in Chicago and Los Angeles to broaden his performance range. He has been actively working as a voice actor since 1992 in a broad range of work from industrial narration to animated characters for outlets like Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. His commercial list carries a wide variety of work.^[12]

He has worked as a voice for radio station imaging and commercial campaigns, including work associated with Blockbuster and syndicated radio programming.^[13]

Davis maintains four personal and professional websites. His primary site, JeffDavis.com, features his voice-over, radio, and production work. JeffDavisArt.com showcases his artwork and visual design. JeffDavisWriter.com highlights his writing projects, including books and scripts. He also publishes Just A Thought, at thethoughtzone.com and on the radio in about 85 cities. Just A Thought is a weekly conservative commentary discussing current events, issues in the news and Americana.^[14]

Davis was inducted into the North Carolina Broadcasters Hall of Fame in October 2020. He was nominated by fellow broadcaster Henry Hinton, who recognized Davis's transition from a "farm boy" in North Carolina, to a legendary voice heard by millions including his 41-year tenure at WLS-AM/FM in Chicago and his work as an in-demand voiceover artist. The induction specifically honored his significant contributions to the industry outside the state, acknowledging how he carried his North Carolina roots into major markets like Chicago and Los Angeles. The award, granted by the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters (NCAB), places him alongside other North Carolina legends like Andy Griffith and Billy Graham.^[15]

Jeff Davis has won other awards such as those given at the New York Festivals, an international award from the Hollywood Radio & Television Society and Toronto Crystal Awards. He also won a silver statue from Promax competition.^[16]

Jeff Davis currently resides in the Hollywood Hills under the world-famous Hollywood sign.^[17]

• Official website
• Jeff Davis Art
• Jeff Davis Writer

Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:American radio personalities Category:American voice actors Category:American radio producers Category:Virginia Commonwealth University alumni