For those unaware, the Rev. Gary Davis, known variously during his career as Blind Gary, Gary Davis, Blind Gary Davis and Rev. Gary Davis, was a unique figure in the blues. He was a guitarist, singer and songwriter, who also played banjo and harmonica, born in Laurens, South Carolina, in 1896, and who, during his early career, was a leading exponent of the Piedmont style of blues from that region.

He became an ordained minister, and moved to New York, where he became involved in the folk/blues revival of the 1950s and performed a style of blues which focused on gospel and faith themes, while still being authentic blues music.

This simply INCREDIBLE 83-track 4-CD collection comprises releases on 78s through to 1949 on the ARC, Perfect, Conqueror, Melotone & Lenox labels, along with the tracks from the albums from 1954 through to 1962, The Singing Reverend on Stinson, Harlem Street Spirituals on Riverside, A Little More Faith and Say No To The Devil on Bluesville and Pure Religion And Bad Company on 77 Records.

His virtuoso guitar technique was hugely influential on later post-war blues musicians. This collection bridges the two eras of his career, so is a fine showcase for the breadth of his talent and musical compass as a crucial figure in the genre.

Gary Davis was born on April 30th, 1896, to John and Evelina Davis in Laurens County, in the Piedmont section of upstate South Carolina, on a farm, way down in the sticks, so far you couldn’t hear a train whistle blow unless it was on a cloudy day. One of eight siblings, of whom only two of whom survived childhood, he was raised by his grandmother — because his mother couldn’t care for him and his father was constantly in trouble.

Unlike some of his contemporaries, Davis could play in any key. According to Allen Evans, who began studying with Davis when he was sixteen, he was one of the few blue guitar artists to explore minor keys, creating works of deep pathos such as Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Children of Zion, and I Heard the Angels Singing.

His repertoire comprised Medicine Show tunes, white ballads, military marches, country instrumentals, the emergent ragtime piano, a virtuosic Piedmont (Carolina) blues guitar style, old church hymns, revival meeting and Gospel songs, popular tunes, original compositions based on all the above, and an archaic harmonica style rarely heard elsewhere.

He produced a polyphonic style with the use of only his thumb and index finger. He once told his student, Stephan Grossman, You’ve got three hands to play a guitar and only two for a piano. Well, your forefinger and your thumb — that’s the striking hand, and your left hand is the leading hand. Your left hand tells the right hand what strings to touch, what changes to make. One hand can’t do without the other.

Disc 1:
Cross And Evil Woman Blues; I’m Throwin’ Up My Hands (Ain’t Gonna Work No More); Oh Lord, Search My Heart; You Got To Go Down; I Am The True Vine; I Am The Light Of The World; I Belong To The Band - Hallelujah!; The Great Change In Me; I Saw The Light; Lord, Stand By Me; Have More Faith In Jesus; The Angel’s Message To Me; Twelve Gates To The City; You Can Go Home; I Can’t Bear My Burden By Myself; Meet Me At The Station; When The Train Comes Along; I Can’t Make The Journey By Myself; Oh What A Beautiful City (Twelve Gates To The City); Jesus Met The Woman At The Well; You Got To Move; Motherless Children

Disc 2:
Bad Company Brought Me Here; Say No To The Devil; Death Is Riding Every Day; Twelve Sticks Rag; Blow, Gabriel; Twelve Gates To The City; Samson And Delilah; Oh Lord, Search My Heart; Get Right Church; You Got To Go Down; Keep Your Lamp Trimmed And Burning; There Was A Time That I Was Blind; Samson And Delilah; Let Us Get Together Right Down Here; I Belong To The Band; Pure Religion; Great Chance Since I Been Born; Death Don’t Have No Mercy; Twelve Gates To The City; Goin’ To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River; Tryin’ To Get Home; I Am The Light Of This World

Disc 3:
Lo, I Be With You Always; Lord, I Feel Like Just Goin’ On; You Got To Move; Crucifixion; I’m Glad I’m In That Number; There’s A Table Sittin’ In Heaven; Motherless Children; There’s A Bright Side Somewhere; I’ll Be All Right Some Day; You Better Mind; A Little More Faith; I’ll Fly Away; God’s Gonna Separate; When I Die I’ll Live Again; Say No To The Devil; Time Is Drawing Near; Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand; Bad Company Brought Me Here; No One Can Do Me Like Jesus

Disc 4:
I Decided To Go Down; Lord I Looked Down The Road; Little Bitty Baby; Lost Boy In The Wilderness; Trying To Get To Heaven In Due Time; Pure Religion; Mountain Jack; Right Now; Buck Dance; Candy Man; Devil’s Dream; Moon Goes Down; Coco Blues; Runnin’ To The Judgment; Hesitation; Bad Company; I Didn’t Want To Join The Band; Evening Sun Goes Down; Seven Sisters; My Heart Is Fixed

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