I have only just found this site and was immediately saddened to hear John Yoxall's news that his dad Dave had died.
I used to be an Adelphi regular and it was Dave who first gave me the confidence to get up and sing and play the harmonica at the club. I used to play with a great 12-string guitar player called Pete Rees. At one time a small group of us tried to form a band with Dave but alas it came to nothing.
I'll always regret missing the Rev.Gary Davis but I did meet Fred McDowell. In fact Dave hadn't read the contract properly which stated that a p.a. should be supplied for Fred. I remember him saying "he's a country blues singer, I thought he'd play an accoustic". Fred McDowell turned up with a shiny white electric guitar and there was no p.a. Fred tuned Dave's Gibson accoustic to open G but couldn't get used to it and Dave played the opening song of the night using Fred's tuning. I had to set off in my father's Hillman Minx, which I had borrowed for the evening and collect my band mates amplifier and home made speakers through which Fred subsequently played.
Regular guests were Dave's South London contacts like the wonderful Jo-anne Kelly, her brother Dave Kelly, Tony McPhee [later of the Groundhogs], Andy Fernbach and also John James, Paul Darby, Meic Stephens etc. I'm sure I'll think of more later.
I do remember seeing Mike Cooper in the scout hut in Bryn Road and Pete Rees and I opened for Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup when Dave put him on in a concert in the Llewellyn Hall in the YMCA. The place was packed, Arthur sang 'That's Alright Mama' and backstage told us stories and drank and drank.
Many of us owe Dave such a lot.He's definitely not been forgotten in Swansea,
My thoughts and sympathy are with Dave's family,
Phil A.