Guy Davis

by Eric Boyer

(performs Thurs, 5/22, at 8pm, at The Aladdin Theatre; also Sat, 5/24 w/Pete Seeger in "Links On The Chain"; also Sun, 5/25, at 1:30pm the new Leo Kay Theatre, and at 9:10pm at the Mercer Arena; and as part of "The African Asthetic In Two Worlds," Sun, 7pm at Mercer Arena, Seattle; Davis also performs at The Tractor,Seattle,Mon,5/26)

Upon telephoning Guy Davis at his New York home, our conversation began on the topic of schooling, as he was in the midst of helping his son Martial study. Although apologetic for interrupting, I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable way to break the ice.

Mr. Davis is the son of acclaimed actors/directors Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Being exposed to show business at such an early age helped plant the seeds for what was to come. Guy has been making a name for himself by reviving blues traditions to all walks of life and through many different outlets. It's the combination of blues, music and acting that feed the soul of Guy Davis. I asked when he was younger if the two went hand in hand, or did one lead to the next?

"I knew that I wanted to entertain, and music was a way of establishing independence from my parents."

We were then both quick to point out and laugh about the fact that this has now come full circle. He made his Broadway debut in 1991 in the highly acclaimed "Mulebone", which featured the music of Taj Mahal. In '93 he had the opportunity to play legendary Mississippi blues master Robert Johnson in "Robert Johnson: Trick The Devil".

Davis recounted an eerie tale of blues mystique on a trip to Mississippi at the time. During a week of rehearsals for the Robert Johnson role, a French television company had offered to fly him down to the Delta for a documentary program. While surveying the area and commenting from a blues perspective, they came across the shack where Muddy Waters was born. There was a sign posted "This Shack Was An Example Of Pre-Civil War Construction". While examining the house, he placed his hand on the wall and felt a sudden surge of energy go through his arm and then entire body. Still being filmed on camera, he exploded crying on the spot. It was that experience that powered his performance of Robert Johnson.

"At that moment, I felt what the blues was all about."

After writing and acting in several more theater pieces, Guy started focusing on the musical aspect of performance, and in 1995 released "Stomp Down Rider", his live debut on Red House Records.

As if on a mission, last year he followed up with "Call Down The Thunder" and caused heads to turn. Those not already talking about this multi- talented blues preacher began to talk. While "Call Down The Thunder" includes only three cover tracks, the whole album is a tribute to traditional blues masters. At times images of Leadbelly and Blind Willie McTell are undeniable, but even heavier is his prolific pen that captures a sense of living at the turn of the century in the rural south. The opening track, "Georgia Jelly Roll", exemplifies his unique style of playing guitar that grew out of having first learned banjo at the age of eight.

Whether the genre is theater, film, or musically performing, Guy Davis has always strived to explore and interpret the blues for audiences, and was awarded the W.C. Handy "Keeping The Blues Alive Award" in recent years for his efforts. With accolades coming from various fields, Davis still knows to keep everything in perspective. On the night of the Blues Foundation's Award, a cast of luminaries were on hand including Buddy Guy, Johnny Copeland and Robert Cray. Afterwards at the jam party, Guy noticed Robert Junior Lockwood trying to get his attention.

"I thought, 'this was hot stuff. Whatever he says, that's going to be my blues credo.' He put his arm around me and said, 'Son, you know where the bathroom is?'".