Davy Graham discovered the modal bop of Miles Davis, Charles Mingus and Lennie Tristano during his late teens, Almost Instantancously, his steel strings began to act as lightning conductors, transistorising an unprecedented mix of ‘folk, blues and bevond’ (the title of his second album, recorded for Decca in 1964), including jazz, flamenco, English folk songs, Indian ragas, Persian love songs, Elizabethan lute song and Irish airs. ‘Also, incidentally, he studies the Koran and reads Henry Miller', breezed one sleeve note: here was the roving minstrel as intellectual traveller, presenting the world on a six-string. (Rob Young, Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain's Visionary Music, p. 164). Iconic? or merely Outstanding? Take your pick. Certainly more than merely Significant. File under: Originals and originators.
Discography:
In the music library: The All New Electric Muse: She Moved Through the Fair; Better Git In Your Soul; Pretty Sato (with Shirley Collins)
Anthems In Eden: Anji
Links: Wikipedia Official web site AllMusic Discogs
Obituary: The Guardian Uncut