Roger Davies (manager)

Roger Davies
Born	1952 (age 64–65) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation	Talent manager, record producer
Years active	1972–present
Known for	Sherbet, Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner, Dalbello, Cher, Janet Jackson, Joe Cocker, Sade, Pink.

Roger Davies (born 1952) is a business manager and music producer with a long career in the music industry. His began by working as a roadie in Australia in the early 1970s to managing pop, rock performers including Sherbet (1972–79), Olivia Newton-John (1981–85), Tina Turner, Dalbello, Cher, Janet Jackson, Joe Cocker, Sade and Pink.

Roger Davies was born in 1952 and grew up in Melbourne. In 1970 he left university to become a roadie for a progressive rock band, Company Caine. In the following year he relocated to Sydney and worked for a booking agency, Consolidated Rock – set up by Michael Browning and Michael Gudinski. In October 1972, with a fellow work mate, Michael Chugg, he set up Sunrise booking agency.

Also in 1972 Davies became the talent manager for pop-rock group, Sherbet; he was impressed by the group's attitude: their "willingness to work anywhere, anytime, whatever it took." According to musicologist, Ian McFarlane, "Under the direction of astute manager Roger Davies, the band also pioneered the concept of the national rock tour by undertaking arduous, cross-country treks to play in the far-flung corners of the continent. Sherbet's carefully cultivated image tended to alienate the 'serious' music fan, although the band's ability to deliver well-crafted pop music has never been in doubt."

Sherbet evolved from a soul-based covers band into a teen-oriented pop, rock outfit that relied mostly on original material. They had eleven singles peak in the Australian top ten. From 1975 Davies and Sherbet turned their attention to the international market. The single, "Howzat" (1976), was inspired by the sport of cricket, which went to number one in Australia, and New Zealand. It was a Top 10 hit in several European countries – including number four on the UK Singles Chart, It had less chart success in the United States where it reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100. Nevertheless, its success led to an extensive international tour from 1976 to 1977.

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