Say No to the Devil

"[A] magisterial biography. . . . Half saint, half sinner, all singer-songwriter, . . . the Rev. Gary Davis is that blind man you brushed by on your way to the stadium to see the big act perform. Zack's brilliant account compels us to pause for a long look at an artist who was always there, even if we didn't see him."-- "Wall Street Journal" (5/11/2015 12:00:00 AM) "[In this] biography of the blind preacher and street musician, the man who Keith Richards said, "started it all for me," . . . Zack gives an informative account of Davis's life, both the sacred and profane. . . . A readable and faithful portrait of the times as well as the man."--Elijah Wald "Times Literary Supplement" (4/10/2015 12:00:00 AM) "As the first narrative of Reverend Gary Davis' life, Zack's Say No to the Devil is very much welcome...it has become the now-prevailing narrative of an influential and much-loved figure in American vernacular music."--Chris Heim, host and producer, KMUW's Global Village "Recorded Sounds Collection Journal" (12/28/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Finally, the biography that Rev. Davis deserves. Ian Zack takes 'Blind Gary' out of the footnotes and into the footlights of the history of American music. Like John Coltrane, George Gershwin, Jimi Hendrix, and the rest of the very few, Davis's genius was unique and uncompromising. How he was able to take gospel and blues and create a style that was so unique and so powerful is a story that had to be told. Now, thanks to Zack's careful research and unbounded respect for his subject, we finally have insight into the art and environment that was Davis's life story. With this biography, Davis can finally take his place in the pantheon of the greatest of American musicians."--Steve Katz, cofounder of Blood, Sweat & Tears "Acoustic Guitar" (4/6/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Long time comin' and here at last! This fabulous book is for those who want to read, hear, and troll the depths of Americana music for incredible artists. Once you come across Rev. Gary Davis, you are forever hooked by his creative brilliance. From his earliest recordings to his last, Zack illuminates what made 'the Rev' so unique. Enjoy yourself! It's a good un'!"--Taj Mahal "Wall Street Journal" (5/11/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Rev. Gary Davis had a rich and colorful but challenging life. Zack has put together the pieces of Davis's life in an exciting and detailed way. This biography reads like a novel! It details the life and times of Davis, as well as the evolution of his music and the influence he had on generations of black and white musicians. A must-read for anyone interested in the blues, the folk revival, or the life of a true American genius."--Stefan Grossman "Sing Out!" (2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM) "This isn't a dry who-did-what-when kind of biography. It's like Zack followed [Davis] around, making note of the boy teaching himself to play the guitar, to the confident blues performer who could play on any stage. And this isn't the Disney version. Davis was a complicated man who lived in difficult times."--Steve Katz, cofounder of Blood, Sweat & Tears "Sing Out!" (2/26/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Zack paints a vivid picture of this brilliant guitarist, including stories of legendary jam sessions in Davis's New York apartment which included Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly Josh White, and Lightning Hopkins. This is a most welcome addition to our blues literature."--Elijah Wald "Blues News" (10/7/2015 12:00:00 AM) "Zack presents a detailed but readable account of the extraordinary life of Gary Davis, the blind son of poor sharecroppers in South Carolina. This book will satisfy blues aficionados and those interested in roots music and early twentieth-century culture."--Elijah Wald "Library Journal" (4/6/2015 12:00:00 AM) One of the Best Music Books of 2015 "Zack, i

Ian Zack is a New York-based journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, and Acoustic Guitar. He worked as a concert booker for one of the oldest folk venues in New York, the Good Coffeehouse, where he got to know some of Davis's students.