Doc Watson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doc Watson
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Watson at MusicFest 'N Sugar Grove, Sugar Grove, North Carolina, 2009
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Arthel Lane Watson |
| Also known as | Doc Watson |
| Born | March 3, 1923 Deep Gap, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 29, 2012 (aged 89) Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica |
| Years active | 1953–2012 |
| Labels | Folkways, Vanguard, United Artists, Flying Fish, Sugar Hill |
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (born March 3, 1923 – died May 29, 2012) was an amazing American musician. He was a guitarist, songwriter, and singer. Doc played many styles of music, including bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. He won seven Grammy awards during his life. He also received a special Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. People admired his unique fingerpicking and flatpicking guitar skills. They also loved his deep knowledge of traditional American music. Doc lost his sight when he was very young. He performed for many years, sometimes alone and sometimes with his son, Merle Watson. Merle was also a talented guitarist. Sadly, Merle passed away in 1985.
Contents
Doc Watson's Life Story
Early Days and How He Got His Name
Doc Watson was born in Deep Gap, North Carolina. He shared a fun story about how he got his famous nickname "Doc." It happened during a live radio show. The announcer thought his real name, Arthel, was a bit unusual. He said Arthel needed an easier nickname. Then, a fan in the audience shouted, "Call him Doc!" This was probably a nod to Sherlock Holmes's friend, Doctor Watson. And just like that, the name stuck!
Doc lost his eyesight before his second birthday due to an eye infection. He went to a special school for blind children. It was called the Governor Morehead School in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In an interview, Doc talked about getting his first guitar. His father told him and his brother, David, to chop down some dead trees. They sold the wood to a company. With his share of the money, Doc bought a guitar from a store called Sears. His brother bought a new suit! Doc later got a high-quality guitar called a Martin D-18.
Doc's first musical heroes were country artists like the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers. The very first song he learned on guitar was "When Roses Bloom in Dixieland." He quickly became a natural musician. Within months, he was playing on local street corners. He played songs by groups like the Delmore Brothers and Monroe Brothers. By the time he was an adult, Doc was a very skilled guitar player.
Starting His Music Career
In 1953, Doc joined a country and western band called Jack Williams's swing band. He played electric guitar in this band. The band often played for square dances. They didn't always have a fiddle player. So, Doc taught himself to play fiddle tunes on his electric guitar. He later used this same technique on his acoustic guitar. Playing fiddle tunes became a special part of his sound. While playing with Jack Williams, Doc also tuned pianos to help support his family.
Around 1960, folk music became very popular again in America. A music expert named Ralph Rinzler suggested that Doc play only acoustic guitar and banjo. This was a big step for Doc's career. He made his first recording, Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley's. He also performed in Greenwich Village in New York City. Soon, Doc started touring alone. He played at universities and music clubs. His big break came in 1963. He performed at the famous Newport Folk Festival and got amazing reviews. Doc recorded his first solo album in 1964. He also started performing with his son, Merle Watson, that same year.
Playing with Merle and Beyond
After the folk music trend slowed down in the late 1960s, Doc Watson's career kept going strong. This was partly thanks to his performance of the song "Tennessee Stud" in 1972. He played it on a live album called Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Doc and Merle were as popular as ever. In 1974, they started playing as a trio with T. Michael Coleman on bass guitar. This trio toured all over the world in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They recorded nearly fifteen albums together. They shared their unique acoustic music with millions of new fans.
Sadly, in 1985, Merle died in a tractor accident on the family farm. Two years later, the MerleFest music festival was started. It honors Merle's memory.
Doc Watson was known for his amazing guitar playing. He used both flatpicking and fingerpicking styles. But he was most famous for his flatpicking. His guitar skills and his genuine mountain musician style made him very important during the folk music revival. He helped create a fast and exciting bluegrass lead guitar style. This included playing fiddle tunes and using crosspicking techniques. Other famous guitarists like Clarence White and Tony Rice learned from him. Doc was also a skilled banjo player. Sometimes, he even played the harmonica at the same time!
Doc was also known for his deep, rich singing voice. Over the years, he learned many mountain ballads. He learned these songs by listening to people in his home area of Deep Gap, North Carolina.
Doc played many different guitars throughout his career. His first recordings were made with a Martin D-18 guitar. Later, he started playing Gallagher guitars. He even had a special Gallagher guitar made just for him. It was called "Donald" after the guitar maker, Don Gallagher. In his last years, Doc played a special guitar given to him by Ricky Skaggs for his 80th birthday. Another favorite was his Arnold guitar, "The Jimmie." It was made to honor the famous guitarist Jimmie Rodgers.
In 1994, Doc worked with musicians Randy Scruggs and Earl Scruggs. They recorded the classic song "Keep on the Sunny Side" for a special album.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later life, Doc Watson toured less often. He was usually joined on stage by his grandson, Richard (Merle's son). He also played with his longtime musical friends David Holt or Jack Lawrence. In 2007, he performed with Australian guitar player Tommy Emmanuel. Doc also played at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco several times.
Doc Watson hosted the yearly MerleFest music festival. It takes place every April in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The festival features many kinds of acoustic music. It focuses on folk, bluegrass, blues, and old-time music. The festival is named in honor of Merle Watson. It is one of the most popular acoustic music festivals in the world. Over 70,000 music fans come to it each year. The festival continues even after Doc's passing.
In 2010, Doc Watson was honored by being added to the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
In 1947, Doc married Rosa Lee Carlton. Her father was a popular fiddle player named Gaither Carlton. Doc and Rosa Lee had two children. Their son, Eddy Merle, was born in 1949. Their daughter, Nancy Ellen, was born in 1951.
On April 29, 2012, Doc Watson performed with the Nashville Bluegrass Band at MerleFest. It was a tradition for him to join them for a gospel music set on Sunday morning. This would be his very last performance.
On May 21, 2012, Doc fell at his home. He wasn't badly hurt from the fall itself. However, he had another medical problem that needed surgery. Doc Watson passed away on May 29, 2012, at the age of 89. He died from problems after his surgery. He is buried in the Merle and Doc Watson Memorial Cemetery in Deep Gap, along with his wife and son.
Doc Watson's Lasting Impact
In 2002, a special multi-CD album about Doc's life was released. It was called Legacy. This collection included audio interviews with Doc and his music. It also had a full recording of a live show. This album won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album in 2002.
In 2010, a detailed book about Doc Watson was published. It was called Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson. The book shared new information about Doc's life and career. It included interviews with his friends and other musicians. The book also covered the life and sad death of Merle Watson.
In 2013, a collection of Doc's unreleased recordings came out. It was called Milestones. This collection had 94 songs, stories, and many photos. Doc's daughter, Nancy, helped create this special collection.
Many people believe that Doc Watson helped make the flat picking guitar style popular. Bluegrass bands widely use this style today. Artists like Billy Strings have been influenced by him.
Awards and Honors
Doc Watson received many important awards for his music. In 1986, he got the North Carolina Award. In 1994, he received a North Carolina Folk Heritage Award. He also received a National Heritage Fellowship in 1988. This is the highest honor the U.S. government gives for folk and traditional arts. In 2000, Doc was added to the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 1997, U.S. President Bill Clinton gave him the National Medal of Arts. In 2010, he received an honorary music degree from Berklee College of Music.
There is a sign on U.S. Route 421 near Deep Gap, where Doc was born. It says "Doc and Merle Watson Highway." This part of the highway is named after both Doc and his son.
Grammy Awards
- 1973 Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording: Doc Watson for Then and Now
- 1974 Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording: Merle Watson and Doc Watson for Two Days in November
- 1979 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Doc Watson and Merle Watson for "Big Sandy/Leather Britches"
- 1986 Best Traditional Folk Recording: Doc Watson for Riding the Midnight Train
- 1990 Best Traditional Folk Recording: Doc Watson for On Praying Ground
- 2002 Best Traditional Folk Album: Doc Watson and David Holt for Legacy
- 2004 Lifetime Achievement Award
- 2006 Best Country Instrumental Performance: Bryan Sutton and Doc Watson for "Whiskey Before Breakfast" track from Not Too Far from the Tree by Bryan Sutton
Images for kids
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Watson at MusicFest 'N Sugar Grove, Sugar Grove, North Carolina, 2009
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Watson performing in 1994
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Watson sculpture on the corner of King and Depot Streets in Boone, North Carolina. The plaque on the bench reads "Just one of the People".
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Merle Watson, c. 1979
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Watson's last performance, 2012
