Doc Watson
Doc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watsonwas an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music were highly regarded. He performed with his son, guitarist Merle Watson, for over 15 years until Merle's death in 1985 in an accident on the family farm...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionFolk Singer
Date of Birth3 March 1923
CityDeep Gap, NC
CountryUnited States of America
When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus,' meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.
My real interest in music was the old 78 records and the sound of the music. I loved it and began to realize that one of the main sounds on those old records I loved was the guitar.
We have had to play some mighty tough audiences.
And I'd like to leave quite a few friends behind and I hope I will. Other than that, I don't want nobody putting me on a pedestal when I leave here. I'm just one of the people ... just me.
The size of the halls doesn't matter to me too much
I'm like an old dog, I hate to be run off from home
Practice like the Devil.
I love music and love a good audience and still have to make a living. Why would I quit?
Since the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is 'traditional plus.'
I just loved the guitar when it came along. I loved it. The banjo was something I really liked, but when the guitar came along, to me that was my first love in music
Intimacy comes from being yourself on the stage and making the audience feel, without trying, that you're sittin' down there with 'em, playing, and that can happen in a big hall, if you have a good audience that want to listen
You have to be yourself otherwise people won't know who you are,
I feel about me like I'm one of the working people, just like you, and everybody else. I don't fit the part of a celebrity.
I'd think learning to play the guitar would be very confusing for sighted people