Rev. Gary Davis

Reverend Gary Davis was arguably one of the most accomplished acoustic guitarists in American music, a virtuoso whose fingerpicking technique encompassed ragtime, blues, gospel, marches, and popular songs with a complexity and speed that left other musicians in awe. Born partially blind in South Carolina, he was completely blind by his early thirties. He recorded a handful of extraordinary sides for ARC in 1935 in the Piedmont blues tradition before being ordained as a Baptist minister and devoting himself primarily to gospel music. He moved to Harlem in the 1940s and became a legendary street performer and guitar teacher; his students included Stefan Grossman, Woody Mann, Ernie Hawkins, and David Bromberg. Rediscovered by the folk revival, he performed at Newport and other festivals and recorded extensively for Prestige, Folkways, and other labels. His recordings of 'Death Don't Have No Mercy,' 'Samson and Delilah,' and 'Cocaine Blues' have been covered by the Grateful Dead, Hot Tuna, and many others.