Editing Chip Davis (section)

==Career==
After touring with the [[Norman Luboff Choir]], he took a job with [[Omaha, Nebraska]], advertising agency [[Bozell|Bozell & Jacobs, Inc.]] writing [[jingle]]s. These included spots for a local company, Metz Bakery, featuring the fictional trucker [[C. W. McCall]].<ref name="Citron on Record Sales">{{Cite news|title=Bread, Record Record Records|last=Citron|first=Peter|date=June 7, 1974|work=The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper|location=Omaha, NE, USA|page=49}}</ref> The spots were co-written with the advertising writer William Fries, who became the voice of McCall.<ref name="Citron on Record Sales" /> The spots were so popular that Davis and Fries were persuaded to begin writing non-advertising songs featuring McCall. The song "Convoy" reached number 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] the week of January 10, 1976,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1976-01-10|title=billboard - The Hot 100|last=Note - Week of January 10, 1976|website=billboard.com|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> using [[CB slang]] during the [[CB Radio|CB]]/[[Truck-driving country|trucker]] [[fad]]. The duo released five albums between 1974 and 1979. Davis was named SESAC Country Music Writer of the Year in 1976.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://journalstar.com/entertainment/music/mannheim-steamroller-biggest-christmas-artist-ever-chip-davis-talks-before/article_b3ba273f-dd46-5961-a232-105636c009c7.html|last=Wolgamott|first=L. Kent|title=Mannheim Steamroller, biggest Christmas artist ever: Chip Davis talks before Lincoln shows |date=December 18, 2018|work=The Lincoln Journal Star Newspaper|access-date=March 7, 2019|location=Lincoln, Nebraska, USA}}</ref>

Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller with [[Jackson Berkey]] in 1974<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nAgEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22chip+davis%22&pg=PA54|title=Mannheim Steamroller, 25 Years of Fresh Aire, A Billboard Tribute|last=Manna|first=Sal|date=August 21, 1999|website=Google Books|pages=M1–M16}}</ref> to showcase his interest in fusing modern popular and classical techniques. The first album, ''[[Fresh Aire]]'', was completed shortly after. It was turned down by major record labels, so Davis founded [[American Gramaphone]] to release it. American Gramaphone has been the label for all subsequent Mannheim Steamroller releases. Eight ''Fresh Aire'' albums were released, concluding with ''[[Fresh Aire 8]]'' in 2000.

Mannheim Steamroller released ''[[Mannheim Steamroller Christmas]]'' in 1984; Davis is credited with revolutionizing the "traditional" sounds of Christmas. The group's subsequent [[Christmas music]] albums have sold tens of millions of copies and become among the most popular recordings in that genre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mannheimsteamroller.com/dt_testimonials_category/25-facts-2/|title=Mannheim Steamroller Archives: 25 Facts}}</ref> His annual Mannheim Steamroller Christmas concert tour, utilizing two [[cover bands]] that tour simultaneously, has continued for over 25 years across the US. Davis was awarded his 19th gold record in 2010. The Recording Industry Association of America has also awarded Davis four multi-platinum and eight platinum records. Davis also hosts a once-a-year, 24-hour Christmas music and story radio program called ''An American Christmas''. The program is produced by [[WestStar|WestStar Multimedia]] and broadcast on December 24–25 over hundreds of radio stations.