Harlem Street Singer: The Reverend Gary Davis Story

Harlem Street Singer serves up an affectionate profile of Reverend Gary Davis, told from the perspective of the folk, blues, and rock musicians who have taken inspiration from his work. Along with interviews, film clips, and archival photos, co-directors Trevor Laurence and Simeon Hutner capture new performances of Davis's songs by guitarists Woody Mann and John Cephas, and singer Bill Sims, Jr. Born blind, Davis grew up in South Carolina, where he played music on the streets and started a ministry—two vocations that he continued after moving to New York with his second wife, Annie. Mann, who took guitar lessons from Davis, considered him a sort of father figure. As a player, Davis developed a reputation for speed, fluidity, and the ability to imitate sounds ranging from the human voice to a marching band. Singer-guitarist Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, who covered “Samson and Delilah,” recalls that “he was just all over the guitar, and it impressed me mightily.” Several speakers argue that Davis transcended genre, since jazz, folk, gospel, and ragtime were all part of his style. By the 1960s, Davis was playing coffeehouses and folk festivals, recording albums, and reaching more listeners than ever before. With the royalty proceeds from Peter, Paul & Mary's cover of “If I Had My Way" (a variation on "Samson and Delilah"), Davis bought a house in Queens, allowing him to live out his final decade in some degree of comfort. Although there isn't much discussion here about Davis's lyrics or vocals, his guitar playing is extensively explored. Extras include extended interviews with 16 players, including Stefan Grossman and John Hammond. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)