This is a song called 'Sampson and Delilah', which Gary didn't write, but did the definitive version at the time. Peter Paul and Mary recorded it on their first album, and gave writing credit to Davis. They gave him a share of the enormous profit from the album, which enabled him to buy a house. the record label turned the check over to him at a media event. They asked him,'Rev. Davis, did you write this song?" and he said "No..." collective media gasp...."It was revealed to me in a dream!"
He lived from April 30, 1896 - May 5, 1972, aged 76 years and 5 days. He is one of the oldest musicians who ever lived. Lived a long life too. May he R.I.P. 🎸🎸🎶
I guess there is no mystery as to who the Grateful Dead's favorite blues artist was, as about half of their cover tunes are from this guy's catalog. I really never even knew who he was until today, but every discovery is opens up a new pathway no matter how old, or well worn, that road may be...
obbor4 what other songs do you know? i know jerry Garcia and david grisman do hesitating blues, im not sure if thats a rev gary davis original though. im not doubting you im just curious because i just discovered him last week
They also covered 'Death Don't Have No Mercy' and 'Samson and Delilah'. The Dead covered a huge array of artists from across a wide spectrum and mined blues, folk, and country blues records in their early days as a jug band. There is a Wikipedia listing that shows each one. I had read that they were very taken with Reverend Gary Davis and actually covered just the three listed. Many of the numbers do show his influence on them, however. You can hear that Weir uses the very same vocal attack in this one.
3615yatoula:Je n'imaginais même pas RGaryD autant filmé_Tellement bien ces vidéos! Longtemps j' aurais aimé l'avoir vu pour comprendre globalement son geste, et cette coordination= un Don_Une vie de Foi et de Pratique, au quotidien (se figurer... Du reste les enregistrements live sont époustouflants). Que perdure sa musique & merci x7777à vos contributions!
knowing that the reverend almost never played a song the exact same twice, and that this sounds almost identical the the version on Harlem Street Singer, does anyone think that this could be the rev in the studio recording his masterpiece?
@horlacsd : Just that one time on May 4, 1970 . . . and one other time when I was camping out at Beaver Pond and some jerk on the other side of the pond was shooting a 22 long without looking where he was shooting . . .
We used to be a lot more interesting country. Now we don't do much except trying to survive. We even make a tiny little peep about who we are, and here come the thugs.
@TheCountziggenpuss Yes, that's the more correct title here. However the song was written and performed earlier by Blind Willie Johnson and called If I Had My Way. It seems that this is the version that most influenced the grateful dead.
It wasn’t written by Johnson. This song is an old slave spiritual. The lyrics are documented from former slaves by the Federal Writers Project of the 1930s.
@oreokookie1000 It's all style. Gary Davis has a style, and so does everyone else. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean that other's don't, and that's fine by me. Music is meant for people to feel emotion, and if it does, I'm glad for them.
my favourite's band name's 'the original five blind boys of Alabama'; means there must be another 'five blind boys of alabama' who aren't the original ones I guess!
@camcoyote521 Its typical that someone like you would resort to a comment like that when they know they have no answer for the question and no defense for their actions.
@oreokookie1000 Your racist. That all your comment says. Music does not belong to any race. Let me put it this way, would you be offended if someone said blacks couldn't play classical, and used racial slurs like you did?
This is a song called 'Sampson and Delilah', which Gary didn't write, but did the definitive version at the time. Peter Paul and Mary recorded it on their first album, and gave writing credit to Davis. They gave him a share of the enormous profit from the album, which enabled him to buy a house. the record label turned the check over to him at a media event. They asked him,'Rev. Davis, did you write this song?" and he said "No..." collective media gasp...."It was revealed to me in a dream!"
laferg1 Brilliant!
The Grateful Dead famously recorded it
Beautiful origins💪✨🌎
Lot of soul in every chord and word . Heard the reverend never played a song the same way
Banging hot, dead straight ahead stompin' player. Simply mighty.
He lived from April 30, 1896 - May 5, 1972, aged 76 years and 5 days. He is one of the oldest musicians who ever lived. Lived a long life too.
May he R.I.P. 🎸🎸🎶
I guess there is no mystery as to who the Grateful Dead's favorite blues artist was, as about half of their cover tunes are from this guy's catalog. I really never even knew who he was until today, but every discovery is opens up a new pathway no matter how old, or well worn, that road may be...
Cant you just hear where Bobby got his wail from?
obbor4 what other songs do you know? i know jerry Garcia and david grisman do hesitating blues, im not sure if thats a rev gary davis original though. im not doubting you im just curious because i just discovered him last week
They also covered 'Death Don't Have No Mercy' and 'Samson and Delilah'. The Dead covered a huge array of artists from across a wide spectrum and mined blues, folk, and country blues records in their early days as a jug band. There is a Wikipedia listing that shows each one. I had read that they were very taken with Reverend Gary Davis and actually covered just the three listed. Many of the numbers do show his influence on them, however. You can hear that Weir uses the very same vocal attack in this one.
obbor4 I had only heard Peter Paul and Mary do this song before
The church where he first sang still stands in Laurens SC, I’ve made it a note to visit it someday
Saw the Rev. Davis in workshops at Kent State in late sixties. Unreal.
that's what I call MUSIC.
Thank you thank you thank you so much for putting this back up. One of the most amazing old blues vids on youtube. Thank you.
Blues?
Good God the Rev. sure can belt 'em out and play too!!!
So how many think this song is really about Sampson?
3615yatoula:Je n'imaginais même pas RGaryD autant filmé_Tellement bien ces vidéos! Longtemps j' aurais aimé l'avoir vu pour comprendre globalement son geste, et cette coordination= un Don_Une vie de Foi et de Pratique, au quotidien (se figurer... Du reste les enregistrements live sont époustouflants). Que perdure sa musique & merci x7777à vos contributions!
I wonder if this is how Jerry discovered this tune, through the Reverend on some obscure record label. I dont think radio has ever played this.
WEIR studied with Gary Davis. Along with Bromberg and many others.
Just Wow
praise!
Good God is right, Reverand
Thank you.
Isn't this song called Samson and Delilah?
unbelievable groove and emotions!!
Good god is right. Holy shit that was awesome lol
knowing that the reverend almost never played a song the exact same twice, and that this sounds almost identical the the version on Harlem Street Singer, does anyone think that this could be the rev in the studio recording his masterpiece?
Thank you for posting - this is history. I love the ending.
thank you, Richard Fortus!
He was really plaiying thé acoustic guitare. ..whiist two fin fingers!
@horlacsd : Just that one time on May 4, 1970 . . . and one other time when I was camping out at Beaver Pond and some jerk on the other side of the pond was shooting a 22 long without looking where he was shooting . . .
We used to be a lot more interesting country. Now we don't do much except trying to survive. We even make a tiny little peep about who we are, and here come the thugs.
The Wikipedia page for Mr. Davis says he was born in 1896, not 1876 as the video implies.
@TheCountziggenpuss Yes, that's the more correct title here. However the song was written and performed earlier by Blind Willie Johnson and called If I Had My Way. It seems that this is the version that most influenced the grateful dead.
It wasn’t written by Johnson. This song is an old slave spiritual. The lyrics are documented from former slaves by the Federal Writers Project of the 1930s.
@oreokookie1000 It's all style. Gary Davis has a style, and so does everyone else. Just because you don't like them doesn't mean that other's don't, and that's fine by me. Music is meant for people to feel emotion, and if it does, I'm glad for them.
awesome!!
nice,amazing,and of course historical
rare video
Pretty amazing!
That Miss Gibson talking about it.
YAZZZZZZAH......EEEEEEEEYAAAAA....good ol lucky sun...YAZZZZZ SUH
my favourite's band name's 'the original five blind boys of Alabama'; means there must be another 'five blind boys of alabama' who aren't the original ones I guess!
Isn't this Samson & Delliah?
Jesus nice)
In which year , and where, was this video done ?
Well Peter Paul and Mary made a lot of money from this song. He was a good guitar play and his guitar hero is my hero too Blind Blake
How did Skrillex send you here?
@camcoyote521 Its typical that someone like you would resort to a comment like that when they know they have no answer for the question and no defense for their actions.
@oreokookie1000 Your racist. That all your comment says. Music does not belong to any race. Let me put it this way, would you be offended if someone said blacks couldn't play classical, and used racial slurs like you did?