Since the start of her career, “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues”, Thornetta Davis, has become a global ambassador for the musical soul of Detroit – an ascent that makes sense considering her upbringing.

Growing up, jazz and blues were commonplace in Thornetta Davis’ West Side Detroit household. She also sang in church choirs as a child, developing her vocal range and emotional delivery early.

By the middle of the 1980s, she was playing in the city’s clubs with local bands, quickly becoming known for her energetic performances.

She then joined the Detroit rock band Lamont Zodiac and the Love Sign (later the Chisel Brothers) – a band that elevated her status on the Detroit blues circuit.

Davis became a backing vocalist for Lamont Dozier in 1987, one of Motown’s songwriting architects.

Those gigs led her to work with other major artists like Bob Seger and Kid Rock, and she slowly began to gain a following in both Rock and R&B, releasing “Sunday Morning Music” in 1996, which saw her blending blues, soul, and gospel with contemporary production just as her solo career was beginning to lift off.

This album exposed her to the nation, but it was a rise that was only possible thanks to her strong Detroit upbring.

Davis has won over thirty Detroit Music Awards over the years.

She has also shared the stage with the iconic B.B. King, going on world tours with
him and other legends like Bonnie Raitt and Gladys Knight.

Her album, “Honest Woman,” was critically acclaimed in 2016 for its autobiographical depth and genre-crossing quality.

From raw blues shuffles to soul ballads, it was the record that would ultimately confirm her status as a global icon of contemporary blues music.

Davis represents the tough, expressive musical DNA of Detroit.

Like all great Detroit vocalists, her voice carries the history of the city and its R&B heritage, but it’s also uniquely her own.

Whether she’s performing at a small club or a large festival, Thornetta brings the same level of authenticity to every note she sings.

In short: Thornetta Davis is more than a singer – she’s a living embodiment of Detroit’s musical soul.

She doesn’t just sing songs.

She inhabits them.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: August 19, 2025