Reverend Gary Davis, also Blind Gary Davis, (April 30, 1896 – May 5, 1972) was an African American blues and gospel singer and guitarist. His unique finger-picking style influenced many other artists and his students in New York City included Stefan Grossman, Roy Book Binder, Woody Mann, Nick Katzman, Dave Van Ronk, Tom Winslow, and Ernie Hawkins. His musical influence extends from the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Wizz Jones and Jorma Kaukonen to Keb Mo, Olabelle and Resurrection Band. Biography Born in Laurens, South Carolina, Davis became blind at a very young age. He took to the guitar and assumed a unique multi-voice style produced solely with his thumb and index finger, playing not only ragtime and blues tunes, but also traditional and original tunes in four-part harmony., North Carolina]]In the mid-1920s, Davis migrated to Durham, North Carolina, a major center for black culture at the time. There he collaborated with