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Earlier I had posted a video of Peter Paul and Mary singing this song. Here is the man that they learned it from. Reverend Gary Davis, born in Laurens South Carolina in 1896, went blind early in his childhood. Davis was encouraged to become a musician in order to earn a living. It may seem odd now, but blind children were often taught to play a musical instrument and sing and sent out to become street performers at that time.

Davis moved to Durham North Carolina in the 1920s and became a part of the thriving Piedmont blues scene. He made his first recordings in Durham in 1935. In the 40s Davis moved to New York and began playing on the streets of Harlem. He became known as a patient, if demanding guitar teacher in New York. Some of his students, during the 60s, were David Bromberg, Roy Book Binder, Dave Van Ronk, Bob Weir, Stephan Grossman and my own guitar teacher, Rolly Brown.

Davis also became the pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church in Harlem. Most of his songs, that we know, are Gospel music but he was known to teach his students some of his older blues material when his wife was out of the house.

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