Davey Graham Dies

Folk Legend Passes Away

Folk legend and guitar genius Davey Graham has passed away aged 68 after a brief battle with lung cancer, it has been announced.

Davey Graham’s impact on modern music goes much beyond the yellowing critical plaudits and rather meagre record sales. Graham took the the guitar young and through countless hours of practice became a quick simply revolutionary musician.

Debate rages over who invented it, but Graham’s adoption of the DAGDAD tuning freed folk guitar players allowing for spectacular new inventions. His signature song ‘Anji’ was covered by Bert Jansch, while his guitar style echoes through Fairport Convention, Led Zeppelin and more.

Graham’s recordings in the mid 60s include some of the most important British guitar music ever made. Incorporating blues, jazz, indian and avant garde classical influences, his music seemed to hint at the years of travelling Graham had spent, and the exotic cultures he encountered.

Due to drug and health problems, Davey Graham’s career declined in the 70s and he spent more than 20 years on the sidelines before returning to the live arena in 2005.

Davey Graham has died, aged 68.

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