An RIP Tribute to the Amazing Doc Watson

by Robert Wilkinson

Doc Watson just left the building. Today we celebrate his life and music with a lot of great videos!

If you've never heard of this amazing musician, let’s begin with some things posted about him on Wikipedia:

Doc Watson was 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... An eye infection caused Doc Watson to lose his vision before his first birthday... Watson's earliest influences were the roots of country: The Carter Family and Jimmy Rodgers.

From the same source, we find his career began in the early 50s, when "Watson taught himself to play fiddle tunes on his Les Paul electric guitar. He later transferred the technique to acoustic guitar, and playing fiddle tunes became part of his signature sound." In 1960, he began playing acoustic guitar and banjo exclusively, and when he did his first recording, “Old Time Music,” that’s when his career took off.

Also from Wikipedia:

Watson played guitar in both flatpicking and fingerpicking style, but is best known for his flatpick work. His guitar playing skills, combined with his authenticity as a mountain musician, made him a highly influential figure during the folk music revival. He pioneered a fast and flashy bluegrass, lead guitar style including fiddle tunes and crosspicking techniques which were adopted and extended by Clarence White, Tony Rice, and many others. Watson was also an accomplished banjo player and sometimes accompanied himself on harmonica as well. Known also for his distinctive and rich baritone voice, Watson over the years developed a vast repertoire of mountain ballads, which he learned via the oral tradition of his home area in Deep Gap, North Carolina. His affable manner, humble nature and delightful wit endeared him to his fans nearly as much as his musical talent.

And now, the wit, wisdom, and incredible flat picking of the legendary Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson!

Here’s an early Doc Watson performance! In b/w, a smokin’ version of "Nine Pound Hammer."

Here's Doc Watson and Jack Lawrence performing "Tennessee Stud."

Here's Doc and Merle Watson performing "Summertime."

Here’s Doc and Earl Scruggs doing 6 minutes of great picking!

Doc Watson & Earl Scruggs Play At Doc's Home

Here’s Doc, Leo Kottke, and the legendary Johnny Gimble in a live performance from “Prairie Home Companion” doing “Just A Little Lovin’”

From 1991, Doc in a live performance of “Black Mountain Rag”

Here's Chet Atkins, Leo Kottke and Doc Watson performing "Last Steam Engine Train."

Now for a great live performance set! I found all 5 parts of "THE THREE PICKERS" featuring Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Ricky Skaggs. For your enjoyment, three of the better guitarists to pick a note!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Here's Doc and Richard Watson in the studio version of “House of the Rising Sun,” and here’s Doc’s solo version of “House of the Rising Sun”

Here’s Doc and friends in a 2002 live audio only performance of “St. James’ Infirmary”

We'll finish this brief tribute to this great talent with a video of Doc on harmonica and solo voce’ doing the immortal tune, "Amazing Grace."

RIP Doc. You and your music are loved by millions around the world. You will be missed.

© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[elliott garr]

where did you ever get the idea that doc taught himself how to play the fiddle and then transfered the technique to the guitar to play fiddle tunes? first of all thats is not in the wikepedia text and doc did fool around with the fiddle a bit but always said he lost patience with it because the best he could produce was a sound like a sqealing pig. he never played the fiddle. when he was in a band with jack williams. in the 50's, the folks always wanted to square dance so doc learned fiddle tunes on the guitar. he was the pioneer of flatpicking fiddle tunes on the guitar. the guitar was doc's intrumment of choice. for your info of course!!!!!

[Robert]

Hi Elliott - Here's a perfect teachable moment. Since last year, someone has edited the entry in Wiki. That's where I got the biographical material. If I state something is from Wikipedia and then quote "from the same source" for purposes of summarizing the entry, it is there at the time of composition. Someone put the record straight over at Wiki in the past 9 months. I've just changed the text to reflect the updates at Wiki.

FYI - when something is in Wiki, it is subject to editing by almost anyone, and will be up until someone else changes it. I suspect that's why they discourage the use of Wiki as resource material for college papers. What's there might be right, might be wrong, and no one will know until the entry is challenged and/or changed. I trust you enjoyed the video clips anyway.