Rev. Gary Davis is the real thing. The authentic blind-seer. He is a genius with a brightly burning spirit, enormous musical intelligence, technical brilliance, an encyclopedic memory, driving passion, deep faith, a raunchy and gracious sense of humor. He (1896-1972) was born black in deep poverty in South Carolina, blind from an early age. He overcame these longest of odds to become world famous, a giant of American music. He brought together black and white styles, country gospel, folk themes, blues, jazz, ragtime, minstrel songs, dance tunes and popular song. He developed his own brilliant fingerpicking style that was deep, economical, and adaptable enough to easily cover all these genres. Supporting all his creativity was an unshakable faith that pulled him through the obscurity, the bitter hard times and crushing poverty he would endure until the folk music awakening of the fifties and sixties caught up to him.
In this 108 page book, Ernie Hawkins has transcribed 13 of Rev. Davis's best known blues and ragtime arrangements. Tunes such as Candyman, Cocaine Blues, Hesitation Blues, Baby Let Me Lay It On You, Spoonful and Delia are included alongside the ragtime instrumental tour de forces of Slow Drag (Cincinnati Flow Rag) and Make Believe Stunt (Maple Leaf Rag).
This collection is a companion piece to Ernie's two double DVD lessons Blues Guitar of Rev. Gary Davis (GW978/9) and Ragime Guitar of Rev. Gary Davis (GW980/1) and contains all the tunes presented in those lessons.
Titles include: Spoonful, Cocaine Blues, Delia, Baby Let Me Lay It On You, Candyman, Hesitation Blues, Penitentiary Blues, Florida Blues, Can't Be Satisfied, Slow Drag (Cincinnati Flow Rag), C Rag, Don't Let My Baby Catch You Here and Make Believe Stunt (Maple Leaf Rag)
