My brother took me up to the Reverend's apartment in the Bronx in 1963. I still have vivid memories of it, including the case for his 6-string banjo and a flyer on his back door advertising a healing meeting. That evening, we saw him play at Columbia at a benefit for the March on Washington. I remember him singing "If I Had My Way."
I "make believe" perhaps that make believe stunt was composed by willie walker and taught to rev. gary davis while they were both living in south carolina. Even though it's clearly a take off on parts of maple leaf rag, still, Blind Willie gets no respect!
@gesunelson Sorry for the sarcasm, gesunelson, I've been on the Internet too long today. I usually don't do that. Best wishes from Northwestern Pennsylvania!
@t1mmytee, I think you misinterpreted my comment. I wrote it with regard to the incorrect title of this clip. Why don't you look up both Make Believe Stunt and Maple Leaf Rag on youtube and see which one you think this is.
I love Brombergs music and other Gary Davis students like Ian Buchanan, Bookbinder, Jorma, etc. In their treatment of the Reverends song the master is evident but there's still never quite an accurate duplication. I'm not sure if it's the attack, the syncopation, or something else but no one I've heard ever really plays like the Reverend did. To me there's a certain wildness he had that no one duplicates.
He chose his pupils well.
evsynator 6 months ago
My brother took me up to the Reverend's apartment in the Bronx in 1963. I still have vivid memories of it, including the case for his 6-string banjo and a flyer on his back door advertising a healing meeting. That evening, we saw him play at Columbia at a benefit for the March on Washington. I remember him singing "If I Had My Way."
stevegoldfield 7 months ago
I "make believe" perhaps that make believe stunt was composed by willie walker and taught to rev. gary davis while they were both living in south carolina. Even though it's clearly a take off on parts of maple leaf rag, still, Blind Willie gets no respect!
amccolgan1 8 months ago
great guitarist, thanks for the video.
mandobanjoguitar 1 year ago
1:40 for make believe stunt
Fruscianteistheman 1 year ago
@gesunelson Sorry for the sarcasm, gesunelson, I've been on the Internet too long today. I usually don't do that. Best wishes from Northwestern Pennsylvania!
t1mmytee 1 year ago
@t1mmytee, I think you misinterpreted my comment. I wrote it with regard to the incorrect title of this clip. Why don't you look up both Make Believe Stunt and Maple Leaf Rag on youtube and see which one you think this is.
gesunelson 1 year ago
@gesunelson I'm sure your version is much better.
t1mmytee 1 year ago
I love Brombergs music and other Gary Davis students like Ian Buchanan, Bookbinder, Jorma, etc. In their treatment of the Reverends song the master is evident but there's still never quite an accurate duplication. I'm not sure if it's the attack, the syncopation, or something else but no one I've heard ever really plays like the Reverend did. To me there's a certain wildness he had that no one duplicates.
MaabudZ 1 year ago
This is not Maple Leaf Rag. This is Reverend Gary Davis' Make Believe Stunt which was inspired by Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag.
gesunelson 1 year ago 2