For those of a similar name, see Gary Davies (disambiguation).
Reverend Gary Davis
Davis in the 1960s
Background information
Birth name
Gary D. Davis
Also known as
Blind Gary Davis
Born
(1896-04-30)April 30, 1896 Laurens, South Carolina, U.S.
Died
May 5, 1972(1972-05-05) (aged 76) Hammonton, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres
Gospel blues
Piedmont blues
country blues
folk blues
Instrument(s)
Guitar
vocals
banjo
Years active
1930s–1970s
Musical artist
Gary D. Davis (April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972),[1]: 285–6 known as Reverend Gary Davis and Blind Gary Davis, was a blues and gospel singer who was also proficient on the banjo, guitar and harmonica. Born in Laurens, South Carolina and blind since infancy,[2] Davis first performed professionally in the Piedmont blues scene of Durham, North Carolina in the 1930s, then converted to Christianity and became a minister. After moving to New York in the 1940s, Davis experienced a career rebirth as part of the American folk music revival that peaked during the 1960s. Davis' most notable recordings include "Samson and Delilah"[3] and "Death Don't Have No Mercy".[4]: 108
Davis' fingerpicking guitar style influenced many other artists. His students included Stefan Grossman, David Bromberg, Steve Katz, Roy Book Binder, Larry Johnson, Alex Shoumatoff, Nick Katzman, Dave Van Ronk, Rory Block, Ernie Hawkins, Larry Campbell, Bob Weir, Woody Mann, and Tom Winslow.[5] He also influenced Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, Wizz Jones, Jorma Kaukonen, Keb' Mo', Ollabelle, Resurrection Band, and John Sebastian (of the Lovin' Spoonful).
^Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues: A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger. ISBN 978-0313344237.
^Harold, Ellen; Stone, Peter (April 30, 2005). "Reverend Gary Davis". ACE. The Association for Cultural Equity. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
^Eder, Bruce (n.d.). "Rev. Gary Davis: Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
^Grossman, Stefan (1974). Rev. Gary Davis Blues Guitar. Oak Publications. ISBN 9781783234592.
^Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 105. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
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