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Daryl Davis
Born in Maryland, Daryl Davis earned his bachelor of music degree from Howard University, where he was a member of the Howard University Choir and Jazz Vocal Ensemble. In addition to being a vocalist, guitarist, composer, and keyboardist, Daryl is a professional actor and author.
In 1985, 72 year-old Pinetop Perkins, one of the founding fathers of Boogie Woogie and considered to be one of the greatest Blues and Boogie pianists, selected 27 year-old Daryl Davis to succeed him in the piano and vocal slot of the Muddy Waters Legendary Blues Band. Johnnie Johnson, Chuck Berry’s original pianist, has praised Daryl’s ability to master with authenticity, a style that was popular 30 years before he was born.
As a performer, Daryl Davis has worked with countless greats such as Elvis Presley’s Jordanaires, The Coasters and he is a long-standing, regular player, in Chuck Berry’s current band. He was the featured pianist on Cephas & Wiggins’ 1992 Grammy© Award winning album, Flip Flop and Fly.
As a composer, in addition to his own hits Boogie Man and Broadminded and many other originals, Daryl scored the music to the popular children's story, Abigail. He has helped others perform in nightclubs, concert halls, festivals, recording, films, radio and television, from the United States to Europe, but can hold his own in performing.
Daryl's release, American Roots, has a little something for everybody from the roots of American music; Blues, Rockabilly, Rock'n'Roll, Boogie Woogie, Zydeco, and Country. American Roots is available in music stores everywhere. In addition to his fabulous piano virtuosity, Davis is also the author of Klandestine Relationships, an exploration of racism in America.
 Wayne C. Henderson
A native of Rugby, over in Grayson County, Henderson's name is synonymous with "hot guitar picking" in the Twin County area. But his reputation as a guitarist and luthier spans the globe. He built his first guitar at age 14 from the bottom of a dresser drawer. His technique, he says, involves taking a block of wood and cutting off everything that doesn't look like a guitar. Wayne Henderson's top-notch finger-picking is a source of great pleasure and pride to his friends, family, and neighbors in Grayson County; his guitar playing has also been enjoyed at Carnegie Hall, in three national tours of "Masters of the Steel-String Guitar", and in seven nations in Asia. He is a recipient of a 1995 National Heritage Award presented by the National Endowment for the Arts. Tonight he'll be entertaining the audience with some piano favorites on the six-string!
Gary Patton
Opening for the wild piano man Daryl Davis will be Gary Patton, playing the beautiful Blue Ridge piano developed by Al Hopkins and Woody Blevins generations ago to integrate the piano into mountain string band recordings done by Galax musicians. Gary's cousin Dempsy will be along to back him up on the guitar.
Admission is $10. Children 12 and under admitted free.
Evening concerts begin at 7 p.m. and end at 9 p.m. Concert seating starts at 5:30. Patrons are advised to bring lawn chairs, blankets, umbrellas and flashlights. Picnics are permitted. Ticket prices vary for weekend concerts in the outdoor amphitheater. In case of inclement weather, concerts will be held indoors at the nearby Fairview Ruritan Club. Pets are not permitted in the amphitheater area. Alcohol is not permitted anywhere in the park. Concessions are available on site. Call (276) 236-5309 during the season or visit www.blueridgemusiccenter.org for more information.
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