Blind Gary Davis - "Harlem Steet Singer"

So this guy used to stand on a street corner in Harlem NY and sing for change. Then someone recorded him and he became a bonafide blues artist. For this album he was placed in front of a mic, and told to sing and play what he wanted. As a result the album is raw, unpolished, and sounds live. Gary Davis' voice sounds exactly like the stereotypical bluesman. Rough, wailing, and full of emotion. The songs on this album are gospel rather than blues, not all that surprising considering he was an ordained minister and also went by the moniker Reverend Gary Davis. His guitar playing style is compelling, consisting of fingerpicked melodies interlaced with with partial chord hits and single note runs that typically fill the space between lyrics. It's great music, and a regular visitor to my car cd player. Listen to a bluesman wail at Amazon.