Reverend Gary Davis' guitars

[Gypsyblue]

I just finished reading this wonderful book:



Enjoyed it so much that I might have to read it again. For real.

Highly recommended.

But I have a question.

What guitar is holding on the front cover?

I know he played Gibsons after he started getting some money owed him for his compositions, most notably Peter, Paul and Mary's version of If I Had My Way, and that in his later years he switched to a Bozo 12 string.

But what's that big guitar on the cover of the book.

Any comments about Rev. Gary Davis are more than welcome.

He was a great one!

[Howard Klepper]

That is a Kay; the model is known colloquially as a "K-200," for it's size and shape. I don't know what Kay actually named it. The fretboard inlays on the one in the photo are fancier than some though, which come with simple dots.

My friend Alan Smithline has Rev. Davis's Bozo 12-string, converted to left-hand. Alan was Rev. Davis's last live-in student and guide boy.

[Gypsyblue]

The Bozo was converted to left hand? So a new bridge, saddle and nut?

And the guitar on the cover is a Kay?

I thought it might have been one of those "Prairie-something or others" from the 1930's.

Do you know what they're properly called?

Many thanks!

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

And the guitar on the cover is a Kay?

Yup a Kay or possibly a Silvertone version (Sears labeled these guitars "Master Size"). They have a lower bout that is actually 1/8" wider than the J-200 and a long just under 26" scale. Most are ladder braced but they did make an X braced version. Rare as hens's teeth though.

Here is my late 1950s Silvertone Model 618. This one, as many of these Kays, orginally came with a pinless wrap around bridge.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

I just finished reading this wonderful book:



I know he played Gibsons after he started getting some money owed him for his compositions, most notably Peter, Paul and Mary's version of If I Had My Way, and that in his later years he switched to a Bozo 12 string.

Your statement makes it sound as if PPM and their label tried to do an end-run around paying the Rev. his royalties. That was not the case. He was always given credit and the monies owed him for that tune.

When I was living with him, he owned a blonde J-200, a B-45 12-string and a banjo-guitar. A few years later, a sunburst J-200 took the place of the blonde one. I may be wrong but I don't think he abandoned his 6-stringers for that Bozo 12. He probably just liked it better than the B-45.

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by RRuskin

Your statement makes it sound as if PPM and their label tried to do an end-run around paying the Rev. his royalties. That was not the case. He was always given credit and the monies owed him for that tune.

No, I wasn't implying that about Peter, Paul and Mary.

It seems that unlike Donovan and many others who covered Rev. Gary Davis' songs, Peter, Paul & Mary went out of their way to insist that he get the royalties that he was entitled to.

And, according to the book, it was the first real money that Rev. Davis ever saw from his music. A check for over $10,000!

I know little about this myself. Just what I just read over the last couple of days.

Did you like the book? Is it reasonably accurate?

I mean, other than referring to Pops Staples as the "Matriarch" of the Staple Singers.

That statement made me pause!

[Howard Klepper]

Apparently that model is a K-23. Here's one for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kay-K23-1950...3D331649752010

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by RRuskin

When I was living with him, he owned a blonde J-200, a B-45 12-string and a banjo-guitar. A few years later, a sunburst J-200 took the place of the blonde one. I may be wrong but I don't think he abandoned his 6-stringers for that Bozo 12. He probably just liked it better than the B-45.

According to the book, after he took sick, the Reverend told Annie to sell all of his guitars except for "Miss Gibson"...the J-200 you mentioned.

Thanks for commenting! Most welcome.

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by Howard Klepper

Apparently that model is a K-23. Here's one for sale:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kay-K23-1950...3D331649752010

Wow! How cool is that? Might have to bid on that one.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

No, I wasn't implying that about Peter, Paul and Mary.

It seems that unlike Donovan and many others who covered Rev. Gary Davis' songs, Peter, Paul & Mary went out of their way to insist that he get the royalties that he was entitled to.

And, according to the book, it was the first real money that Rev. Davis ever saw from his music. A check for over $10,000!

I know little about this myself. Just what I just read over the last couple of days.

Did you like the book? Is it reasonably accurate?

I mean, other than referring to Pops Staples as the "Matriarch" of the Staple Singers.

That statement made me pause!

I was interviewed by Ian Zack but have yet to read it. Others whose opinions I trust, say it was well done despite the "matriarch" overlook.

[Gypsyblue]

Originally Posted by RRuskin

I was interviewed by Ian Zack but have yet to read it. Others whose opinions I trust, say it was well done despite the "matriarch" overlook.

It's funny but that was also a paragraph in the book (page 228) in which you were also mentioned.

"That evening, Davis reunited with his student Rick Ruskin, who escorted him to the performer's tent, where they greeted Pops Staples, the matriarch of the folk gospel group, the Staple Singers, who were performing that night."

The story goes on and says that Pops accidentally got the Reverend so drunk that he was in no condition to perform on opening day of the Mariposa Folk Festival and had the "biggest meltdown of his career".

But when he played again three days later, he put on a stellar show and staged a real "comeback".

Were you there for both shows?

Glad it had a happy ending.

[Gypsyblue]

Lots of Reverend Gary Davis on YOUTUBE.

Check out a few and give the Reverend a listen.

Here's a couple to get started with.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

It's funny but that was also a paragraph in the book (page 228) in which you were also mentioned.

"That evening, Davis reunited with his student Rick Ruskin, who escorted him to the performer's tent, where they greeted Pops Staples, the matriarch of the folk gospel group, the Staple Singers, who were performing that night."

The story goes on and says that Pops accidentally got the Reverend so drunk that he was in no condition to perform on opening day of the Mariposa Folk Festival and had the "biggest meltdown of his career".

But when he played again three days later, he put on a stellar show and staged a real "comeback".

Were you there for both shows?

Glad it had a happy ending.

I was there for the entire festival.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

Wow! How cool is that? Might have to bid on that one.

Be advised that despite their size many of these Kays were built with fairly narrow nuts. You might want to check first.

[Gypsyblue]

Well shoot!

I decided I had to have this book.

Returned my library copy because I bought a brand new hardcover of it for my little library at home.

Highly recommended!