B. J. Davis was born in Corbin, Kentucky either on the 3^rd or 4^th of March, 1932. In her mid-teens, she formed a duo team with Mary Frances Pennick, better known as Skeeter Davis, and the two launched a singing career as “The Davis Sisters.”

After a brief recording stint with Fortune in 1952, the Davis Sisters landed a recording contract with RCA Victor. Their first recording, “I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know” quickly became a smash hit, #1 in Country and #18 in the Pop field.

Their career together was to be brief. They did a quest appearance at the WWVA Wheeling Jamboree on August 22, 1953, promoting their new hit record. I had just been with the Jamboree a couple of months, and remember how impressed I was with both B. J. and Skeeter. After the Jamboree shows, we had a Midnight show on WWVA and the girls came to the station to do a couple of numbers. There were vivacious and very excited to say the least.

It was a shock the next day for all of us to find out that their had been an automobile accident that early morning, and that B. J. had been killed. Skeeter was critically injured but survived. What a tragedy! Of course, Skeeter went on to a brilliant career as a single after attempting to carry on as a duo with B. J.’s sister, Georgia.  Skeeter passed away on September 19, 2004.

Dusty Owens
TCM Radio News