Reverend Gary Davis ("Blind Gary Davis", April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972) was an African American blues and gospel singer and guitarist. His fingerpicking style was extremely influential; his students in New York City in the 1960s included Stefan Grossman, Roy Book Binder, Woody Mann, and Ernie Hawkins. April 30 is the 120th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (121st in leap years), with 245 days remaining, as the last day in April. ... 1896 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Jump to: navigation, search May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Jump to: navigation, search 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. ... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see blues (disambiguation) Blues is a vocal and instrumental music form which emerged in the African-American community of the United States. ... Jump to: navigation, search Gospel music may refer either to the religious music that first came out of African-American churches in the 1930s or, more loosely, to both black gospel music and to the religious music composed and sung by white southern Christian artists. ... New York City, officially named the City of New York, is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... The 1960s, or The Sexy Sixties, in its most obvious sense refers to the decade between 1960 and 1969, but the expression has taken on a wider meaning over the past twenty years. ...

He was born in South Carolina and became blind soon after birth. He took to the guitar and assumed a unique multivoice style, playing not only ragtime and blues tunes, but traditional and original tunes in four part harmony. His ordination as a Baptist minister inhibited his blues playing (blues being the Devil's music) and his preference was clearly for inspirational gospel. He migrated to New York City in the 1940s and by the 1960s he had become known as the Harlem Street Singer, and the person to see if you wanted to learn how to play guitar. He achieved serious recognition during the folk revival of the 1960s, with an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival and the recording by Peter, Paul and Mary of his original, "Samson & Delilah", also known as "If I Had My Way". His musical influence extends throughout modern American music from the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan to Keb Mo and Olabelle. Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Palmetto State Other U.S. States Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Governor Mark Sanford (R) Senators Lindsey Graham (R) Jim DeMint (R) Official languages English Area 82,965 km² (40th)  - Land 78,051 km²  - Water 4,915 km² (6%) Population (2000)  - Population 4,012... Ragtime is an American musical genre, enjoying its peak popularity around the years 1900–1918. ... Jump to: navigation, search Baptist churches are part of a Christian movement often regarded as an Evangelical, Protestant denomination. ... New York City, officially named the City of New York, is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... Harlem is a neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, long known as a major African American cultural and business center. ... The Newport Folk Festival is an annual folk-oriented music festival founded in 1959 by George Wein, founder of the already-well-established Newport Jazz Festival, and his partner, Albert Grossman. ... The trio Peter, Paul and Mary (often PP&M) is one of the most successful folk-singing groups of the 1960s. ... Jump to: navigation, search The Grateful Dead was an American psychedelia-influenced rock band. ... Jump to: navigation, search Portrait photograph by Daniel Kramer Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and poet. ... Keb Mo is a noted blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. ...

The principal biographer of Gary Davis is Robert Tilling, author of "Oh, What a Beautiful City! A Tribute To Rev. Gary Davis," Paul Mill Press, 1992. Other resources include "Ragtime and Gospel", Woody Mann, Oak Publications, 2003.

External links

• RevGaryDavis.com, a site devoted to Gary Davis.
• RoyBookBinder.com, Roy Book Binder's official site.