With a New York upbringing by popular actor parents, it would seem that Guy Davis would have leanings towards the theater or art scene.

Fortunately for us, the son of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee gravitated towards music instead. Admittedly, he has performed in an Off-Broadway play about the life of Delta Bluesman Robert Johnson, but it's his old-timey acoustic blues that's winning audiences now- the combination of rootsy blues in the tradition of Mississippi John Hurt, Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal and a gift for story telling no doubt inherited from his parents.

Guy Davis is a self taught guitar player for the most part, although he claims to have piceked up fingerpicking one night from a nine-fingered guitarist on a train from Boston to New York. Whether or not this is true, his technique on six and twelve string guitars is masterful, especially when combined with his able harmonica playing and rough vocal style.

After a succesful career penning and appearing in such blues rooted Off-Broadway works as "Mulebone" "In Bed With the Blues: The Adventures of Fishy Waters" and "Robert Johnson: Beat the Devil," Davis torqued his musical career up a few notches with the release of his debut CD, Stomp Down Rider. Recorded on folk legend Greg Brown's "Red House" record label, Stomp Down Rider showcases Davis' strong storytelling songwriting style, as well as his adaptations of older works by Blind Willie McTell (whose storytelling style resembles Davis'), Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, and Mance Lipscomb-all recorded in a stunning live performance.

It's this aspect that should most appeal to Tucsonans-Davis will perform here this Saturday night at the Southwest Center for Music. It should be an exciting performance. Not only does Davis bring the bluesmanship that made him the 1993 winner of the Blues Foundation's W.C. Handy "Keeping the Blues Alive" award, but he also brings a mastery of the stage as well. Davis' family roots in acting have brought him to early roles in the film "Beat Street" and on television in "One Life to Live," and he has progressed to delivering performances in his own plays and a collaboration between authors Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes.

If you're in the mood for some Southern tinged storytelling mired in the blues of old, there's no other place you should be this weekend.

Guy Davis performs at the Southwest Center for Music this Saturday at 8 p.m. Local folk artists Stefan George will open the show. Advance tickets are available at Antigone Books, Hear's Music and Loco Music, and are $10 with discounts for TBS, TKMA, TFTM, and KXCI members. For more information, call 881-3947.

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