Heroes Of The Blues - The Very Best Of

An expert ragtime and blues guitarist, Rev. Gary Davis recorded gospel, marches, ragtime, jazz, and minstrel pieces throughout his long career (which included recordings issued in every decade from the 1930s until his death in 1972), but turned increasingly to spiritual material, and it is for his own brand of gospel-blues that he is best known. This collection gathers material from the mid-'60s following Davis' discovery by the so-called folk revival, and it documents his raspy singing voice and expert guitar playing. His signature tune, a version of Blind Willie Johnson's "Tear This Building Down" called "Samson & Delilah," leads off this set and exemplifies the skill of this fine gospel bluesman. - AllMusic