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Gussie L. Davis?

12 Feb 00 - 02:06 PM (#177209)
Subject: Gussie L. Davis?
From: Barbara Shaw

Just discovered a song entitled "Maple on the Hill" on Norman Blake's new CD, written by someone named Gussie Davis. It's a BEAUTIFUL song, and I'd like to find out more about this songwriter. According to the DT, s/he also wrote "Fatal Wedding" which doesn't exactly rank in the same category...

Does anyone know anything about Gussie Davis?


13 Feb 00 - 12:40 AM (#177472)
Subject: RE: Gussie L. Davis?
From: Arkie

Gussie Davis was one of the first successful black Tin Pan Alley composers. His biggest hit was The Baggage Coach Ahead. You can find out a more about him by entering google on your address bar and then doing a search for Gussie Davis. Put quotes around the name to get the best search. One of the sites you will get will be this one, http://nfo.net/.CAL/td1.html Scroll down til you get to Gussie. If Dale Rose was near his computer, he could give you more information and sites which sheet music to his songs.


15 Feb 00 - 07:33 AM (#178648)
Subject: RE: Gussie L. Davis?
From: Barbara Shaw

Thanks, Arkie. Not at all what I expected!

I guess the treatment of his song "Maple on the Hill" by Norman Blake was what really drew me to the song. Then I heard it a day later on Prairie Home Companion, done as a medley with "Darlin' Pal of Mine" by Hartford/Seeger/Grisman, and they played it very differently. They did it uptempo and upbeat, as opposed to the slow, mournful ballad done by Blake. Anyway, thanks for your information.