Willie "Bill Daviz" Gooch

Gooch, Willie Lee Gooch, Jr.; age 67, departed this life surrounded by his family at bedside. Willie was born on December 20, 1953 to the late Willie Lee Sr. and Ollie Francis Gooch. Early childhood, Willie "Bill" Gooch attended school in Charleston, West Virginia. Then the Gooch family moved to Columbus, Ohio. Bill played baseball and graduated from Linden McKinley High School. Bill was a very gifted singer, songwriter, and musician playing the keyboard, drums and teaching himself how to play guitar. He started out performing with the Uniques at high school talent shows. Growing up our brother was Bill Gooch. He then gave himself the nickname "Bill Daviz" of the Greyship Daviz the powerhouse funk-rock band of the 1970's. He performed locally and toured nationally, singing funk and R&B music. Greyship Daviz band opened up for act such headliners as Parliament Funkadelic, Bootsy Collins, Sister Sledge and the Fatback Band. The band emerged by writing and recording original materials. Their music has been played extensively on the internet and in DJ booths around the world. Later, Bill moved to San Jose, California to work with other artists in the music industry; and formed a group named Ritch$ and recorded an album. Bill was born ready to take center stage. He was the coolest "brother" pulling off wearing face paint, stylish flamboyant outfits and boots, and those California curls. Bill returned home giving himself the name "Showbiz" still owning the mic while serenading his Columbus, Ohio fans with heart felt ballads. Never forgetting his love for funk music and R&B, he would jump up on stage with his band members or at other gigs singing, dancing and spinning around. Willie Lee Gooch, Jr. will go down in history as "The Legend." Bill worked many jobs throughout his life, but he stayed true to his craft of entertaining his fans. He truly had a gift for gab never meeting a stranger that somehow would end up at our family picnics and dinner tables. When he was not performing, he enjoyed fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, karaoke with friends, reading, playing bid whist, dominoes, crossword puzzles, cooking BBQ, planting and gardening, and being around family and friends. Willie is preceded in death by parents; Willie Lee Sr. and Ollie Francis Gooch, wife Denise Gooch, nephew Walter Gooch Jr. and brother Walter Gooch Sr. He leaves to cherish his memory a son, Adam Gooch, of California and "bonus" special daughter, Toya Russell. Bill will forever be cherished by his sisters, Chiquita "Laverne" (Allen) Taylor and Valorie (Kurtis) Foster; brothers, Ronald (Sandra), and Robert (Denna) Gooch Sr.; nieces, Maria, Lisa, Ja'Na, and Reyna (goddaughter); nephews, Aaron (Natifia), Robert Jr., and Blake all of Columbus, Ohio; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, friends, and extended musical family.