This is a nice interview Stefan did for our feature film on the Reverend “Harlem Street Singer”. It was shot and directed by Trevor Laurence and Dan Gold. I’m very proud of the production and so glad Davis’ story has been told by his students and friends.
You’re right, it is terrific; the film and this segment are important not only because they’re interesting in and of themselves, but as history and musicology, and on more levels than one: about Davis himself, the evolution of his music, about blues in general, about gospel, and first-person accounts of how Northeastern young white players re-introduced - or introduced - this great American music to the world. Accidentally coming upon Grossman’s first Oak instructional book on Davis at Sam Ash music literally.changed this blues Jew’s life.
Early 70’s i heard diddie wah diddie ...blind blake,and thought how on earth is he playing that...went to record store discovered john hurt also stefan it literally changed my life i practiced every moment i could and because i got fairly competent i was invited to play with other people and went on to make a living for 40 odd years.....thankyou stefan you opened up a whole world
7:57:“... I brought Mississippi John Hurt up to his house and we had a great afternoon…”. What an amazing experience. I wish I had had your education, Stephan.
I was lucky to know a boy who led Rev. Gary Davis to corners where he sang near my college CCNY in Harlem in the early 60s. I was lucky to be able to visit his place in the Bronx and hear him play up close. He was a very nice man, and I thought it impossible to imitate his guitar style, let alone his fabulous expressive voice. But I was so lucky to see him up close and relaxed. How lucky we are to have had such devoted students like Dave Van Ronk, who was a major conduit to so many, even if he did not exactly copy Davis. We are even luckier to have had Stefan Grossman bring him to life again and again in different ways. Thank you.
So much of what Stefan says resonates with me - Gary Davis mentioned that a couple of 'boys' came to see him and thought that after lots of tuition that they had caught him up and then "I'd just move a bit further in front of them, so they still had to come back" and he laughed. He just played all day and night - so much energy and a joy to witness
Thanks so much Stefan, for sharing this, and for all the work you've done in keeping the tradition going through your teaching, your videos, and your playing. Wonderful!!
Thank you stephan You are indeed a humble white friend.... This is so valuable for those of us who aspire to play this style but have no known masters in our community. ... You are so kind for sharing
After I graduated high school in Philly in 1966, I spent the summer with an aunt an uncle in the Lincoln Center neighborhood of NYC. I went to Rheingold Music Festival shows at the Wollman skating rink three or four nights a week. One of the shows was opened by what I assumed was a gospel street singer from Harlem graciously brought downtown for a payday. I was totally blown away by his guitar playing which was very different from the jazz guys my father liked and the Motown and folk stuff I liked. Subsequently I came to own "Harlem Street Singer" and "How to Play Blues Guitar" and now a mancave full of albums, cassettes, books MP3s and instruments. I've often wondered about the relationships between Rev. Davis and his students. Presumably, Larry Johnson and Taj Mahal had a natural affinity but Ernie Hawkins, from Pittsburgh, and a Gramercy Park kid...????? This video really fills that vacuum. Definitely sons.....
Many Sons.....And Grandsons . Its sad that we cant actually see back farther to where this all started. I suppose that feeling it is more than we could stand anyway. Thanks for sharing
Stefan, great stories, thank you so much, beautiful...I used to own your Larson Brothers Euphonon jumbo guitar from '84-'94...the greatest guitar I've ever owned...
as a young guitarist, i visited his home and got inspired.Before this night I always played electric, I the went out and got a good acoustic.Nevder the same afterwards.
The best Christan blues guitarist and a hero of mine ! The Bible says call no man father, pastor teacher rabbi ! but brother Gary Davis is one of those that the world wasn't worthy of
Hi Stephan. I remember you from BTHS. Same class. Been following your work. Brilliant. I remember the days and places you talk about here. Thanks for a great profile of The Reverend.
wonderful footage of America's premier guitar player and your great, detailed reminiscences, Stefan. Thanks so much for sharing! How lucky you were--and you took full advantage, as is evident in your own wonderful playing. Bravo!
You memories are very cogent and interesting. I can feel the first person account that you give of your relationship with him. I hope you do more of this type of video sharing. Also it doesn't hurt I have a number of your teaching DVD's so I feel more connected to what I am learning from you. Thanks!
Before the net there are many many of us who owe our start with guitar thanks to Stefan Grossman, I am sure he is aware of that, so a heartfelt thankyou we all so owe you.
Thanks Stefan for sharing all this music. Great stories and history of another time. I feel about you a bit how you felt with Gary - discovering and seeing the music being played.... It's magical!!
Sometime around 1962 or so my older brother began bringing home records. Ramblin Jack and the Reverend. Other as well. Folk Banjo Styles, The Greenbrier boys among them. It was all life changing. Im still hooked.
Thanks for this interview, Stefan and thanks for the fantastic work you've done in documenting and propagating Gary Davis' amazing legacy. His right hand style is unique. His left hand style is unique. His repertoire... simply the number of keys he played in.. all unique. You are right to call him a genius and without your work and that of Ernie Hawkins it might have been mostly lost. Simon Prager
I am deeply grateful to Stefan Grossman for turning me on to the music of Reverend Gary Davis and I really enjoy his anecdotes, which make the experience of listening more intense and personal. I especially like Reverend Davis's happier sounding tunes since these days sadness is cheap. I am making a playlist of his rags and instrumentals.
Thanks Stefan! This is priceless stuff. Harlem Street Singer is one of the most powerful albums I have ever heard. The power of the Rev can't be denied.
This is great - a college friend told me about Rev Gary Davis circa 1971 and I have bought some of the great DVDs that Stefan Grossman has made available. I love this youtube.
Been watching a lot of vids of the old black blues guitarists and what strikes me about them is there in no sighn of arrogance or big headedness about them they all have style and class ..maybe lightnin hopkins has got an edge to him. But he can do what he wants. He's the coolest mutha to ever walk the earth
I remember seeing Dave Van Ronk at McCabes in LA years ago. Just him up there and the folding chairs for the audience, he did a song of the Reverend's I forget which one, but everyone was calling out for him to play Cocaine Blues. He never did play it. I believe he learned it from Mr. Davis as well correct? What a fantastic interview here. That Samson and Delilah jam at the end is beyond description. Thank you.
This is the interview we shot for our feature film on the Reverend “Harlem Street Singer”. It was filmed at Fur Peace Ranch and directed and edited by Trevor Laurence and filmed by Dan Gold (it's important to give credit where credit is due). I’m very proud of the production and so glad Davis’ story has been told by his students and friends. Here is a link to the trailer: czcams.com/video/BYD4Q0v0Fes/video.html
Stefan you Sir are a national treasure. Thank you so much for making these videos, I can't express how much every one of them mean to me. The fact that you had the wherewithall to film back in the day shows what a genuis you are yourself. I could listen to you talk all day. I wish I knew you personally, there's so much to learn from you.. It's so important for guitar players and lovers of music in general to understand where this passion and feeling originated from. You're doing God's work Sir you really are. You've kept this music alive and if it wasn't for you many of us wouldn't know anything. This is a matter of the soul and your work has changed mine and it keeps me alive that's the God's honest truth. I don't want these videos to ever end.. I love your soul and your passion is so charming. I wish I could shake your hand and talk to you. I could bug you for hours haha. I hope you're doing well, I wish you peace love and happiness. Thank you again. God bless. Have a wonderful day.
One of Rev. Gary Davis’ students was Dave Van Ronk. A friend’s older brother had been to Greenwich Village, where he heard Dave and Bob Dylan perform. He brought back recordings of them both, which I loved to listen to - especially those of Dave Van Ronk.
Very cool to hear all these stories. I was introduced to him from the Grateful Dead’s cover of Death don’t have No Mercy. Such a great player and it sounds like he was a great man too.
Haven't listened to this whole thing yet, but it is GREAT!! I like the part where he says that the Reverend's music was in a different stratosphere! I'd really have like to have heard that!
What an absolutely wonderful musician and a great man. As a guitar player myself I tend to go back to men like Rev Davis because in my opinion they were so much more talented then what's out today. Rev. Davis put his heart into his music and that makes a world of difference, I am thankful God gave us Rev. Davis.
This story would make a great movie. Stefan has a very sweet and romantic esteem for the rev, but it sounds like Gary Davis was actually quite a difficult man.
Tommy Two-shoes there is a movie coming out on sept 1 called "harlem Street singer" I believe it has interviews from Stefan grossman, Bob weir ad others.
My Italian grandfather played for Jewish Barmitzvah in the 40s and 50s in NYC and all around the city. You had to know your audience and play what they want.
fine doc. really enjoyed. rev doesn't seem to use many up slides and bends and his playing is almost choppy but wow it's precise, colorful, and uninhibited, at times mesmerizing. then jack nicholson married louis ck and they had a baby but it quickly became a new species. legends learning from legends while the quickening accellerates and fastronauts fornicate and multiply. fun stuff
I would like to see GIBSON rename a model and to give Reverend Gary David hos signature model guitar. I don't know if this is true or not but Davis called his JS-200 Miss Gibson. So, I would like to see more support for a Signature Model of Gary Davis JS-200 Gibson model. How his pick guard worn out. They definitely will sell some more JS200
What a great video. I never noticed before but Rev Davis puts the guitar strap only around his neck and not behind the left shoulder. So the guitar sticks right out in front of his body held almost flat (horizontal). That's his big secret, I'll try that and instantly play just like him. Or maybe not? :)
Gary Davis might not have wanted to play the Devil's music, but he could sure whup the hell ouf of a woman in a song like "She Wouldn't Say Quit" or the live version of "Cincinnati" he did in Portland in 1969.
I enjoyed that very much but it is not tue about tape recorders in 1962 Phillips made smal ones at that time and they were not very dear either I was born in 1944 so I knew lots of people bought them at that time
This is a nice interview Stefan did for our feature film on the Reverend “Harlem Street Singer”. It was shot and directed by Trevor Laurence and Dan Gold. I’m very proud of the production and so glad Davis’ story has been told by his students and friends.
You’re right, it is terrific; the film and this segment are important not only because they’re interesting in and of themselves, but as history and musicology, and on more levels than one: about Davis himself, the evolution of his music, about blues in general, about gospel, and first-person accounts of how Northeastern young white players re-introduced - or introduced - this great American music to the world. Accidentally coming upon Grossman’s first Oak instructional book on Davis at Sam Ash music literally.changed this blues Jew’s life.
Early 70’s i heard diddie wah diddie ...blind blake,and thought how on earth is he playing that...went to record store discovered john hurt also stefan it literally changed my life i practiced every moment i could and because i got fairly competent i was invited to play with other people and went on to make a living for 40 odd years.....thankyou stefan you opened up a whole world
7:57:“... I brought Mississippi John Hurt up to his house and we had a great afternoon…”. What an amazing experience. I wish I had had your education, Stephan.
Mister Grossman almost owes it to Davis to write this stuff down. Grossman definitely taught me to play. I have so much respect for both of these men.
I was lucky to know a boy who led Rev. Gary Davis to corners where he sang near my college CCNY in Harlem in the early 60s. I was lucky to be able to visit his place in the Bronx and hear him play up close. He was a very nice man, and I thought it impossible to imitate his guitar style, let alone his fabulous expressive voice. But I was so lucky to see him up close and relaxed. How lucky we are to have had such devoted students like Dave Van Ronk, who was a major conduit to so many, even if he did not exactly copy Davis. We are even luckier to have had Stefan Grossman bring him to life again and again in different ways. Thank you.
The look on Stefan's face at the end of the interview, "I don't have any children, but many sons". Priceless.
So much of what Stefan says resonates with me - Gary Davis mentioned that a couple of 'boys' came to see him and thought that after lots of tuition that they had caught him up and then "I'd just move a bit further in front of them, so they still had to come back" and he laughed. He just played all day and night - so much energy and a joy to witness
Thanks so much Stefan, for sharing this, and for all the work you've done in keeping the tradition going through your teaching, your videos, and your playing. Wonderful!!
Stephan Grossman gave his all to the music he loved. May his memory live on.
@@jackpeters9349 What are you talking about, he's still alive!
Thank you so much, Stefan Grossman. This is beautiful beyond expression.
Thank you stephan
You are indeed a humble white friend....
This is so valuable for those of us who aspire to play this style but have no known masters in our community. ...
You are so kind for sharing
After I graduated high school in Philly in 1966, I spent the summer with an aunt an uncle in the Lincoln Center neighborhood of NYC. I went to Rheingold Music Festival shows at the Wollman skating rink three or four nights a week. One of the shows was opened by what I assumed was a gospel street singer from Harlem graciously brought downtown for a payday. I was totally blown away by his guitar playing which was very different from the jazz guys my father liked and the Motown and folk stuff I liked. Subsequently I came to own "Harlem Street Singer" and "How to Play Blues Guitar" and now a mancave full of albums, cassettes, books MP3s and instruments. I've often wondered about the relationships between Rev. Davis and his students. Presumably, Larry Johnson and Taj Mahal had a natural affinity but Ernie Hawkins, from Pittsburgh, and a Gramercy Park kid...????? This video really fills that vacuum. Definitely sons.....
Excellent guitar player and excellent human being!
Many Sons.....And Grandsons . Its sad that we cant actually see back farther to where this all started. I suppose that feeling it is more than we could stand anyway. Thanks for sharing
Stefan, great stories, thank you so much, beautiful...I used to own your Larson Brothers Euphonon jumbo guitar from '84-'94...the greatest guitar I've ever owned...
great video , Rev Gary Davis was a pure musical genius , he just sang and played like music was in his soul, natural gift
as a young guitarist, i visited his home and got inspired.Before this night I always played electric, I the went out and got a good acoustic.Nevder the same afterwards.
This is one of the coolest stories I ever heard, really wild.
The best Christan blues guitarist and a hero of mine ! The Bible says call no man father, pastor teacher rabbi ! but brother Gary Davis is one of those that the world wasn't worthy of
Hi Stephan. I remember you from BTHS. Same class. Been following your work. Brilliant. I remember the days and places you talk about here. Thanks for a great profile of The Reverend.
wonderful footage of America's premier guitar player and your great, detailed reminiscences, Stefan. Thanks so much for sharing! How lucky you were--and you took full advantage, as is evident in your own wonderful playing. Bravo!
Thank you for posting this. It is great
You memories are very cogent and interesting. I can feel the first person account that you give of your relationship with him. I hope you do more of this type of video sharing. Also it doesn't hurt I have a number of your teaching DVD's so I feel more connected to what I am learning from you. Thanks!
This is a stunning interview. Absolutely absorbing !
I hung on every word. What a thrill!
the rev will make you a believer
Brilliant love it thanks ❤
Before the net there are many many of us who owe our start with guitar thanks to Stefan Grossman, I am sure he is aware of that, so a heartfelt thankyou we all so owe you.
Stefan: Thank you for doing what you did.
Thanks Stefan for sharing all this music. Great stories and history of another time. I feel about you a bit how you felt with Gary - discovering and seeing the music being played.... It's magical!!
Sometime around 1962 or so my older brother began bringing home records. Ramblin Jack and the Reverend. Other as well. Folk Banjo Styles, The Greenbrier boys among them. It was all life changing. Im still hooked.
Thanks for sharing those personal stories with us. Many Thanks
Thanks for this interview, Stefan and thanks for the fantastic work you've done in documenting and propagating Gary Davis' amazing legacy. His right hand style is unique. His left hand style is unique. His repertoire... simply the number of keys he played in.. all unique. You are right to call him a genius and without your work and that of Ernie Hawkins it might have been mostly lost.
Simon Prager
I am deeply grateful to Stefan Grossman for turning me on to the music of Reverend Gary Davis and I really enjoy his anecdotes, which make the experience of listening more intense and personal. I especially like Reverend Davis's happier sounding tunes since these days sadness is cheap. I am making a playlist of his rags and instrumentals.
Stefan thanks a million. Sincerely Jody
that was fabulous - thanks stefan -
Great video Stefan. Wonderful story. Thankyou.
Hi Stefan ...loving your videos I bought, thanks for teaching me, and all the amazing footage.
Thank you ever so much Stefan, for uploading these memories of Reverend Gary Davis!
This was really interesting. Hearing these stories was wonderful. Thank you, Stefan.
Thanks Stefan! This is priceless stuff. Harlem Street Singer is one of the most powerful albums I have ever heard. The power of the Rev can't be denied.
Wonderful interview! Thanks so much, Stefan
Wow, thank you for sharing your memories of the great Rev. Davis.^
This is great - a college friend told me about Rev Gary Davis circa 1971 and I have bought some of the great DVDs that Stefan Grossman has made available. I love this youtube.
Very interesting video. Thanks for the upload!
Rev Gary Davis is amazing. Blind Willie Walker did a good job.
I love interviews like this.
Been watching a lot of vids of the old black blues guitarists and what strikes me about them is there in no sighn of arrogance or big headedness about them they all have style and class ..maybe lightnin hopkins has got an edge to him. But he can do what he wants. He's the coolest mutha to ever walk the earth
Great true American story! Thank You!
"... I don't have any children, but I have many sons ..." yes indeed Rev.
I remember seeing Dave Van Ronk at McCabes in LA years ago. Just him up there and the folding chairs for the audience, he did a song of the Reverend's I forget which one, but everyone was calling out for him to play Cocaine Blues. He never did play it. I believe he learned it from Mr. Davis as well correct? What a fantastic interview here. That Samson and Delilah jam at the end is beyond description. Thank you.
This is the interview we shot for our feature film on the Reverend “Harlem Street Singer”. It was filmed at Fur Peace Ranch and directed and edited by Trevor Laurence and filmed by Dan Gold (it's important to give credit where credit is due). I’m very proud of the production and so glad Davis’ story has been told by his students and friends. Here is a link to the trailer: czcams.com/video/BYD4Q0v0Fes/video.html
Really interesting. I was blown away when I first Pure Religion and Bad Company (UK) and I just loved Coco Blues but that was 50 years ago
Stefan was so generous to give away the teachings of Rev Gary Davis, keeping the music alive.
Thanks Stefan - warm, informative, wonderful. Many, many good memories.
Thank You so much for this Stefan, priceless!
thank you so much for this ....very enjoyable and full of information
Stefan you Sir are a national treasure. Thank you so much for making these videos, I can't express how much every one of them mean to me. The fact that you had the wherewithall to film back in the day shows what a genuis you are yourself. I could listen to you talk all day. I wish I knew you personally, there's so much to learn from you.. It's so important for guitar players and lovers of music in general to understand where this passion and feeling originated from. You're doing God's work Sir you really are. You've kept this music alive and if it wasn't for you many of us wouldn't know anything. This is a matter of the soul and your work has changed mine and it keeps me alive that's the God's honest truth. I don't want these videos to ever end.. I love your soul and your passion is so charming. I wish I could shake your hand and talk to you. I could bug you for hours haha. I hope you're doing well, I wish you peace love and happiness. Thank you again. God bless. Have a wonderful day.
This is amazin - Gary Davis playing bar mitsvahs. OMG! thank you so much for posting this.
Great memories! Thanks for sharing!
One of Rev. Gary Davis’ students was Dave Van Ronk. A friend’s older brother had been to Greenwich Village, where he heard Dave and Bob Dylan perform. He brought back recordings of them both, which I loved to listen to - especially those of Dave Van Ronk.
Fascinating, very enjoyable thanks.
enjoyed this very much. thanks.
A reverend and blues giant....never heard of him. Amazing
I really appreciate this.
Very cool to hear all these stories. I was introduced to him from the Grateful Dead’s cover of Death don’t have No Mercy. Such a great player and it sounds like he was a great man too.
Haven't listened to this whole thing yet, but it is GREAT!! I like the part where he says that the Reverend's music was in a different stratosphere! I'd really have like to have heard that!
This is a great article!
so great, but not many views... the world is full of dead brains...
Thanks.
Love this!
What an absolutely wonderful musician and a great man. As a guitar player myself I tend to go back to men like Rev Davis because in my opinion they were so much more talented then what's out today. Rev. Davis put his heart into his music and that makes a world of difference, I am thankful God gave us Rev. Davis.
Definitely!
great!
Thanks
Good stuff!
Wonderful
what a nice story !!!
fantastic video....
This story would make a great movie. Stefan has a very sweet and romantic esteem for the rev, but it sounds like Gary Davis was actually quite a difficult man.
Tommy Two-shoes there is a movie coming out on sept 1 called "harlem Street singer" I believe it has interviews from Stefan grossman, Bob weir ad others.
Ha.....Who among us isn't difficult?
Rev. Gary Davis thought of himself as the best when he really is the best. Some may think this as conflicting but its true.
My Italian grandfather played for Jewish Barmitzvah in the 40s and 50s in NYC and all around the city. You had to know your audience and play what they want.
Stefan, thanks.
Dave Bensky
fine doc. really enjoyed. rev doesn't seem to use many up slides and bends and his playing is almost choppy but wow it's precise, colorful, and uninhibited, at times mesmerizing. then jack nicholson married louis ck and they had a baby but it quickly became a new species. legends learning from legends while the quickening accellerates and fastronauts fornicate and multiply. fun stuff
Guitar j200 gibson. The most beautiful...
saw you playing in Exit in the netherlands long ago
I would like to see GIBSON rename a model and to give Reverend Gary David hos signature model guitar. I don't know if this is true or not but Davis called his JS-200 Miss Gibson. So, I would like to see more support for a Signature Model of Gary Davis JS-200 Gibson model. How his pick guard worn out. They definitely will sell some more JS200
What a great video. I never noticed before but Rev Davis puts the guitar strap only around his neck and not behind the left shoulder. So the guitar sticks right out in front of his body held almost flat (horizontal). That's his big secret, I'll try that and instantly play just like him. Or maybe not? :)
SOLI DEO GLORIA
-Ronnie
Never would have heard of him if not for Jorma Kaukonen
Any pics of you two, I was wondering what you looked like in the early sixties.
You know now im thinkin, I really wonder what some stories of Rev. Gary Davis's life are.
Hey, does anybody knows where is an availble download version of the movie (not dvd)? thnx alot
Gary Davis might not have wanted to play the Devil's music, but he could sure whup the hell ouf of a woman in a song like "She Wouldn't Say Quit" or the live version of "Cincinnati" he did in Portland in 1969.
to stephan: do you know if david bromberg took lessons from the rev
Any footage or recordings of the Mariposa folk festival grossman is talking about?
is that a thumb pick on his right thumb? it's up high on the thumb, but watching him play, looks like he's just picking with his bare thumb.
The world of fingerpicking guitar would be very different if stefans dad didnt let him go to harlem to get lessons from rev gary davis
Is this the same Stefan Grossman who played soprano saxophone on the greatest album ever made, Miles Davis' "Tribute to Jack Johnson"?
That "Make Believe Stunt" is incorrectly identified. I think it's Buck Dance.
It is correctly labeled around 16:30
Thanks
wonder what gary davis did when he wasnt playing guitar? any other hobbies?
Isnt that Buck Dance at 3.40?
I enjoyed that very much but it is not tue about tape recorders in 1962 Phillips made smal ones at that time and they were not very dear either I was born in 1944 so I knew lots of people bought them at that time