Doc Watson at age 16 with one of his first guitars.
(Photo courtesy of David Holt)
Posted on 05/29/2012 5:12:20 PM PDT by doubleA
Breaking News: Grammy-winning folk musician Doc Watson died at 89 at a Winston-Salem hospital Tuesday evening, according to his manager and a hospital spokesman.
(Excerpt) Read more at wral.com ...
Doc Watson at age 16 with one of his first guitars.
(Photo courtesy of David Holt)
God be with all of those who loved him.
Rest in peace.
He has albums with literally hundreds of folk songs and blue grass songs.
Pure American.
I was a Freshman at Appalachian State University when I first heard The Tennessee Stud by Doc. That song really takes me back.
Doc lived in Wilkesboro which was on the way to App on 421.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq-1G6Wif8s
twang.
perfect.
Who knows what kind of guitar he was playing?
This will take you a long ways around Lukey McCoy’s barn, but will give you a mini-taste of Doc Watson’s type of music:
Doc Watson collaborated with guitar-picking legend Merle Travis in the later years of their careers. Travis died in 1983, so Doc Watson has survived a long time since then.
For a quick window into their relationship and music, refer to an album produced by NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND in the 1970s, titled “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The Dirt Band members were excellent musicians, and in addition to Rock ‘n Roll music, enjoyed, performed and were very good at Bluegrass. Their “Stars and Stripes Forever” album, which I once owned on 8-Track tape showcased the spectrum of their talents, from folk to rock to bluegrass, with several very humorous bits thrown in.
The multi-LP-disc “Circle” album included appearances by many Country & Bluegrass legends. “Mother” Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash’s mother-in-law participated in a number or two and played her Hammer Dulcimer. One of the great Country fiddlers who never had much name recognition, Vassar Clements, was a mainstay on that album, as were Merle Travis and Doc Watson. Doc Watson held Merle Travis in such high regard that he named his son Merle after Travis. One standout number on the “Circle” album was when Doc and Merle joined in on a track of the C & W oldie, “DOWN YONDER.” According to narration on the album by either Doc or Merle, the song “Down Yonder” was originally recorded by a fun-sounding group by the name of “Gitt Tanner and the Skillet Lickers.”
RIP.
I believe in the video that I posted earlier Doc said it was a Les Paul.
Doc Watson was one of America’s premier old-timey/country blues guitarists. He was most famed for preserving and enhancing our rich trove of traditional mountain music with his virtuoso performances of old songs. His Smithsonian Folkways recordings with Clarence Ashley are the Appalachian equivalent of the Great American Songbook.
down to the river
His "Orange Blossom Special" on the Circle album was purely spectacular.
This is the music of my youth . . .
He lost his vision before his first birthday, and the next thing he sees is God.
It’s been tough on bluegrass this year. First Earl then Doug Dillard and now Doc.
Thanks a million for that link. Can you tell me who the guys were accompanying Doc? I’m not sure, but they look suspiciously like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band members.
Oh! Crap! A great loss for the Musical Arts in America! I was praying that he’d pull through. I’m very sad. Black ribbon on my shirt for the next week,,,,,.... RIP Doc. You were my first guitar hero,,,,,....
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