Houston Davis

Delta Recording Corp. recorded the original version of "Go, Mississippi" at its studio in Jackson, Mississippi, at 1653 Raymond Road.

His father, Edward Samuel Davis (1874–1952) was a barber.

Davis played snare drum in a community marching band in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

His father played bass horn.

Northeastern's music faculty included Henri S. Minsky (1908–1980), a violinist who was director of bands.

Houston Davis (born William Houston Davis; December 15, 1914 – November 15, 1987) was an American composer, arranger, teacher of music, dance band drummer, and later in his career, a justice of the peace in Hinds County, Mississippi.

As a child, Davis was born and raised in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Davis went on to study music at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma (his photo is in the university's 1935 yearbook).

During college, Davis also led his own dance band.

Around 1936, Davis began playing drums with the Wally Stoefler Orchestra, and stayed with the group until about 1940.

Stoefler's press releases often singled out Davis as "that famous Oklahoma drummer."

At some point in his career, he then taught high school music and band.

Davis moved to Mississippi in 1942.

In the latter 1950s, he wrote a number of political songs, but, was mostly composer and arranger for hire, as was advertised in a brochure published around 1960:

"Houston Davis: successful composer of political songs, jingles, parodies."

Davis wrote campaign songs for Mississippi Governors Ross Barnett and Paul Johnson.

The label, which had an office in New York City in the early 1950s at 236 West 55th Street (Midtown Manhattan), was founded by Jim Bulleit (né James Albert Bulleit; 1908–1988) and Jimmie Ammons (né James Douglas Ammons; 1919–2001).

Ammons's main occupation was that of a machinist in Jackson, Mississippi.

Delta was noted for its custom recording work, which included recording weddings, church choirs, and college choirs.

Delta also produced recordings for the foreign language department of Ole Miss.

Delta also produced many jingles for numerous radio stations.

Delta recorded radio stations all over Mississippi for ASCAP.

When Mississippi was searching for a state song, Delta Recording Studio reportedly recorded all the state university bands in search of the song that would truly be representative of the state.

He composed "Go, Mississippi", which, in 1962, became the official state song for Mississippi.

He also composed country songs, such as "I'm Broke", "Girls Don't Wear Dresses Anymore", and "Crop Duster".