“My dream?” Jamie thought for a moment. “Sam, musicians are taken advantage of all the time. Music companies and executives exploit them constantly. In addition, schools are routinely eliminating music programs. When that occurs it means that young, gifted musicians never have the opportunity to develop their hidden talents. I dream about creating a production company that would take care of today’s musicians and at the same time those musicians would pay it forward for future stars.”” - Jamie Davis

Our Story

“What is your ultimate dream?” I asked my friend Jamie Davis. Davis, is a great jazz singer who has traveled the globe as the lead vocalist for the legendary Count Basie Orchestra. Jamie had joined me for a dinner and music at Yoshi’s, a well-known jazz club in Oakland, Ca.  

His response was not what I anticipated.  

Based on a friend’s recommendation years before, I had hired Jamie to sing at my 60th birthday celebration. Jamie’s velvety voice is a smooth blend of Nat King Cole and Lou Rawls. When Jamie sings Big Band music, it is mesmerizing.  

Before meeting at Yoshi’s, Jamie and I had reconnected when he agreed to sing at my dear wife Cindy’s memorial. Our evening was my way to say thank you for his kind gesture. As I awaited his response to my question, I expected his response to be a dream of fame, fortune, or winning a Grammy.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  

“My dream?” Jamie thought for a moment. “Sam, musicians are taken advantage of all the time. Music companies and executives exploit them constantly. In addition, schools are routinely eliminating music programs. When that occurs it means that young, gifted musicians never have the opportunity to develop their hidden talents. I dream about creating a production company that would take care of today’s musicians and at the same time those musicians would pay it forward for future stars.”  

I am businessman that loves jazz music and its musicians. Jamie’s dream resonated with me and I reached for my cell phone and called a good friend of mine, Greg Errico. Greg is a 1993 inductee in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as the original drummer of Sly and the Family Stone. I told Greg, “Get down here. God’s doing something.”  

Greg joined us and within two hours, on the back of a napkin at Yoshi’s, the three of us drew up the plans to create an artist-owned production company. We named it Unity Music.  

We had no idea what was ahead.

Today

Unity Music Foundation continues to focus on the lives of our family of musicians touring the world and spreading the word. As an ever-growing family we aid future musicians and organizations that strive to make our world better than what so many inner city indegenous families and individuals experience. A world where violence, racism and the needs of people are addressed in a serious and honoring way. 

Musical keys open doors and there are actual musical bridges that bring together the people on the front lines of terrific organizations with those that can provide the resources required to help them meet the needs of those they serve. 

We believe that we can help each other discover what "instrument" we play in the music that our Creator inspires us to write and live.