Message Board Archive: Thread Number 83

The following was posted in another forum and I thought I would repost
it here:
Please take a moment today and mark the 102d anniversary of the birth
the late and great Reverend Gary Davis.  Born April 30, 1896, the
Reverend Mr. Davis passed away in 1972.
An enormously talented singer, composer, and guitar player, Reverend
Davis made huge contributions to the fields of traditional American
music, gospel, and blues, though he steadfastly denied that a man of the
cloth could sing or have
the blues.  Arguably the most talented finger-picking guitarist of the
century, Reverend Davis' students included Blind Boy Fuller, Stefan
Grossman, Roy Bookbinder, Jorma Kaukonen, David Bromberg, Dave van Ronk,
and Ry Cooder.  His
compositions are too numerous to list, but include "I Am the Light of
This World," "Oh Lord, Search My Heart," "Let Us Get Together," "Great
Change Since I Been Born," and  "I Belong to the Band."   A special
"thank you" for Kenneth Goldstein's production and publication of
Reverend Davis' work.
So Happy One Hundred and Second Birthday, Reverend Gary Davis.  You are
deeply missed.  You are listened to daily, you are loved, and you are
not forgotten.
-A grateful and devoted fan

Date: Thu, 7 May 1998 00:17:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: dboas@wam.umd.edu (Darren)
Subject: Ok: RE: Happy Birthday Blind Willie McTell
Message Number: 83.1

May 5th marked what would have been Blind Willie McTell's 97th birthday.
McTell is one of my favorites & was truly a remarkable musician,
songwriter & storyteller. Such songs, as dyin' crapshooters blues, broke
down engine, kill it kid & statesboro blues are in most everyone's
repertoire. That he never acheived the acclaim he surely deserved during
his lifetime is a sad fact & that he is still not as well known as many
others, is sadder still. Yet, the sound he created with his 12 string is
as distinctive as Blind Blake, Reverend Gary Davis, or Mississippi John
Hurt. Happy Birthday, Blind Willie McTell!

Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1999 10:02:41 -0500 (EST)
From: murawski@uga.edu (Alex Murawski)
Subject: News: Blind Willie Blues Festival
Message Number: 83.1.1

There is an annual blues festival in Thomson Georgia in honor of native
son, Willie McTell. This year it is scheduled for May 1st, all day until
dark. It hs been a great show for the past five years and this one
should be no different.

Date: Sat, 20 Feb 1999 05:54:52 -0500 (EST)
From: hclewman@mindspring.com (Harry Lewman)
Subject: Question: Who is playing at the festival?
Message Number: 83.1.1.1

I greatly enjoyed the festival when I went there its first year. There
was an acoustic stage and an electric stage. After the first year,
however, there were very few acoustic players there. Will this year be
different?

Check out the picture I took of Willie McTell's gravesite, near
Thompson, GA at http://www.hlmusic.com/drive.htm

Thanks. Harry Lewman