Reverend Gary Davis
Reverend Gary Davis (aka Blind Gary Davis & Rev. Gary Davis & Reverend Blin… Read Full Bio ↴Reverend Gary Davis (aka Blind Gary Davis & Rev. Gary Davis & Reverend Blind Gary Davis) - 30 Apr 1896 to 5 May 1972, was an African American blues & gospel singer, as well as a renowned guitarist. His unique finger-picking style was influential on many subsequent artists and his students in New York City included Jorma Kaukonen (of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna), Stefan Grossman, Roy Book Binder, Woody Mann, and Ernie Hawkins. His musical influence, extends from the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan to Keb Mo, Olabelle and Resurrection Band.
Born in Laurens, South Carolina, Davis became blind at a very young age. He took to the guitar and assumed a unique multi-voice style, playing not only ragtime and blues tunes, but also traditional and original tunes in four-part harmony. In the mid-1920s, he migrated to Durham, North Carolina, a major center for black culture at the time. While there, Davis collaborated with a number of other artists in the Piedmont blues scene including Blind Boy Fuller and Bull City Red. In 1935, a store manager with a reputation for supporting local artists introduced Davis (as well as Fuller and Red) to the American Record Company. The subsequent recording sessions marked the real beginning of Davis’ career. It was also during his time in Durham that Davis converted to Christianity; he would later become ordained as a Baptist minister. Following his conversion and especially his ordination, Davis began to express a preference for inspirational gospel music.
In the 1940s, the blues scene in Durham began to decline and Davis migrated to New York City. By the 1960s, he had become known as the “Harlem Street Singer” and also acquired a reputation as the person to see if you wanted to learn to play guitar. The folk revival of the 1960s re-invigorated Davis’ career, culminating in an performance at the Newport Folk Festival and the recording by Peter, Paul and Mary of “Samson & Delilah.” Also known as “If I Had My Way,” it was originally a Blind Willie Johnson recording that Davis had popularized.
Born in Laurens, South Carolina, Davis became blind at a very young age. He took to the guitar and assumed a unique multi-voice style, playing not only ragtime and blues tunes, but also traditional and original tunes in four-part harmony. In the mid-1920s, he migrated to Durham, North Carolina, a major center for black culture at the time. While there, Davis collaborated with a number of other artists in the Piedmont blues scene including Blind Boy Fuller and Bull City Red. In 1935, a store manager with a reputation for supporting local artists introduced Davis (as well as Fuller and Red) to the American Record Company. The subsequent recording sessions marked the real beginning of Davis’ career. It was also during his time in Durham that Davis converted to Christianity; he would later become ordained as a Baptist minister. Following his conversion and especially his ordination, Davis began to express a preference for inspirational gospel music.
In the 1940s, the blues scene in Durham began to decline and Davis migrated to New York City. By the 1960s, he had become known as the “Harlem Street Singer” and also acquired a reputation as the person to see if you wanted to learn to play guitar. The folk revival of the 1960s re-invigorated Davis’ career, culminating in an performance at the Newport Folk Festival and the recording by Peter, Paul and Mary of “Samson & Delilah.” Also known as “If I Had My Way,” it was originally a Blind Willie Johnson recording that Davis had popularized.
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Reverend Gary Davis Lyrics
Blow Gabriel Blow Gabriel! Blow Gabriel! Blow Gabriel! Blow Gabriel! …
Candy Man Candy man been here and gone Candy man been here and…
Children of Zion I wonder where my old mother, amen Wonder where my old…
Cocaine Blues Got my baby dressed in white Hey baby won't you…
Cross And Evil Woman Blues Lord, you women, sure do treat me mean Lord, you women,…
Death Don't Have no Mercy Y'know death don't have no mercy in this land Death don't…
Down by the River (Oh yeah) I'll be down by the river Waiting for the…
God's Gonna Separate God's gonna separate the wheat from the tares Didn't He say…
Goin' to Sit Down on the Banks of the River I'm gonna run through the streets of the city Where my…
Hesitation Blues I woke up this morning just 'bout half past four Hesitation…
I Am The Light Of This World Just as long as I’m in this world, I am…
I Belong to the Band Hallelujah, Hallelujah, I belong to the band, Hallelu Hall…
I Heard the Angels Singing One day as I was walkin' along I heard the angels…
I Want To Be Saved Oh, Lord I want to be saved Oh, Lord I want…
I'm Glad I'm In That Number I'm glad I'm in that number, In that holy number! I'm glad…
If I Had My Way If I had my way If I had my way If I…
Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning Mother, don't you stop a-prayin' Father, keep right on pra…
Let Us Get Together Let us get together Right down here Right down here Right…
Lord I Wish I Could See It was a time when I went blind, it was…
Mean Old World This is a mean world you live in 'til you…
Motherless Children Motherless children have a hard time when mother is gone Mo…
Right Now Right now, Right now Right now, Right now Let the Savior b…
Samson and Delilah If I had my way, I would tear this old…
Say No to the Devil Say no to the Devil, say no Say no to the…
She Wouldn'T Say Quit I had a little girl And she wouldn't say quit She wouldn't…
She's Funny That Way Once she dressed in silks and lace, Owned a Rolls…
Soon My Work Will All Be Done Soon my work will all be done Soon my work will…
There Was a Time That I Was Blind There was a time that I went blind There was a…
Twelve Gates to the City Oh, what a beautiful city Oh, what a beautiful city Oh, what…
Whistlin' Blues I was comin’ along as a young man ya know.…
You Got To Go Down You better learn how to treat everybody For you got to…
You Got To Move You got to move, you got to move You got to…