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Doc Watson

Doc Watson is a legend in acoustic music, with a unique style influenced by his traditional Appalachian folk music roots, blues, country, gospel, and bluegrass. Despite being blind since infancy, Doc has been making music his whole life and is considered by fans everywhere to be one of the world’s most accomplished flatpickers.

Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was born in Stoney Fork Township, NC, on March 3, 1923 surrounded by music. His mother sang traditional and religious songs, and his father played the banjo. Doc’s first instruments were a harmonica and a homemade banjo, but he soon showed a talent on the guitar. After receiving his first guitar from his father, Doc started playing both family favorites and new material he picked up from records and the radio with neighbors and family.

Doc’s talent developed to the point where he supported his family through the 1950’s playing music and tuning pianos. His main occupation was playing electric guitar in a country dance band with pianist Jack Williams, but he also continued to play traditional acoustic music with his friends Tom “Clarence” Ashley, Clint Howard, and Fred Price. A performance with Ashley, Howard, and Prince at Union Grove, North Carolina in 1960 brought Doc together with folklorist Ralph Rinzler. By 1961, Rinzler had arranged for Ashley, Howard, Prince, and Doc to perform in New York City for a “Friends of Old-Time Music” concert, and one year later Doc performed solo for the first time at Gerde’s Folk City in Greenwich Village.

For the next several years, Doc made the folk music circuit, playing concerts all over the country and appearing at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival and with Bill Monroe that same year at New York’s Town Hall. Although the popularity of folk performers had waned by the mid-1960’s, Doc continued to tour extensively with his son Merle playing backup guitar and serving as manager and driver. In addition to thousands of concerts, Doc has recorded dozens of albums in his long career. Since his son Merle’s death in 1985, he now only performs occasionally. For the last six years, Doc has hosted the annual Merle Watson Memorial Festival in Wilkesboro, NC on the last weekend of April.

Doc and Merle Watson - In Concert - DVD
Doc Watson is widely regarded as the finest flatpicking guitarist and preeminent folk artist alive today. In this Ramblin' concert recorded in 1980, Doc is joined by his son Merle on guitar and banjo and Michael Coleman on bass. Their performance is a showcase of native folk traditions and a display of distinctive stylistic inventions. A visit with Doc and Merle at home in Deep Gap, NC and Rock Hill, SC is also included. Songs include "Way Downtown, Sadie, Frosty Morn, Medley: "Big Sandy / Old Joe Clark, Don't Think Twice It's Alright, Summertime, Smoke Smoke, Sweet Georgia Brown, Pallet On Your Floor, Streamline Cannonball, Wild Bill Jones, Natural Born Gamblin' Man, Got The Blues Can't Be Satisfied, I Miss The Mississippi And You, 'Rangement Blues, Medley: Yankee Doodle / Dixie".
(60 min). Biographical booklet included.........................................Price - $24.95

Doc Watson and David Grisman - In Concert - DVD
Doc Watson has known David Grisman since the latter was a teenager stunning veteran performers at New York City folk clubs in the 1960s. Aside from the pleasures of picking with an old friend, the reward of playing with Grisman is simple: "He knows music" Doc says, "That's your nutshell answer. He knows what it's about". Coming from a master musician for whom the gift of music is the only reason worth leaving the sweet comforts of family and home, that is the highest praise. In this unique concert video, Doc and David with their friend Jack Lawrence present their unique blend of country, jazz, bluegrass and folk music. Titles include: "Bye Bye Blues, Shady Grove, Summertime, Sweet Georgia Brown, Hobo Bill's Last Ride, In The Pines, Long Journey Home, Lonesome Moonlight Waltz, EMD, I Don't Love Nobody, Blue Eyed Jane, Kentucky Waltz, Will You Be Loving Another Man, Deep River Blues, Soldier's Joy, Medley: Big Sandy / Salt Creek, Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms, Roll On Buddy".
(70 min)........................................................................................Price - $24.95