Reverend Gary Davis

Reverend Gary Davis or Blind Gary Davis was a hugely influential blues and gospel guitarist and singer, born in 1896. He is a true legend of music. The Reverend moved to New York from the Carolinas in the 1930s having cut his teeth with other blues greats such as Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller. 

Davis was well known in New York as a street player and singer. He also taught many students to play the guitar. A larger than life character, full of humour, the 1960s saw his popularity escalate during the folk revival period which was prominent in New York city at the time. His students would take him to coffee houses, concerts and church gatherings where he would deliver his music in his inimitable style. He charged $5 for a lesson which would often end up as a whole day at his flat in an edgy part of New York, with the Rev. teaching blues and music which would otherwise have been lost. 

As a Reverend, in later life Gary Davis would only ever talk his blues songs, and the Lord would look the other way when he did so, as blues songs were considered to be unholy

Blind Gary Davis 1964

Baby Let Me Lay It On You

Hesitation Blues

Children Of Zion

Reverend Gary Davis - 25 Mins Performance

I'm Goin' To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River

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