RIP Doc Watson

hutguy · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 7105 Location: Breckenridge CO

If I had to pick one person for my all time guitar hero it would be Doc. I was fortunate enough to see him several times and every time his warmth, humility, and amazing talent was an inspiration.

RIP Doc, thanks for everything.
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Shakyamuni Buddha. The diamond sutra

robrox · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 12:32 am Post subject:

Dang! RIP
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X-Man · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 1263

His very fast flat picking style made him a legend.

RIP Doc

(cue vdrift to tell us how happy he is that American folk died before Doc)

2 left feet · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 1:34 am Post subject:

An era is ending for sure. I had Doc and Merle playing just last night. Only saw one live show but I'm sure glad I did.
Crying or Very sad

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Everyone will start to cheer
When you put on your sailin' shoes
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oldfart · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 2:15 am Post subject:

Thank you old friend, while I hate to see you go, you can now pick with your blood brother Merle for time to eternity. The soul you brought to American music may never be matched. You were a pioneer , inspiring so many, and a true American hero.

I saw you play so many times, those memories I shall keep for all my days.

Godspeed to you...
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2 left feet · Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 3:09 am Post subject:

This is a gem...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIsDyBxPujM
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Everyone will start to cheer
When you put on your sailin' shoes
Lowell George

thornton · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 1566 Location: over the bars

wow. bummer

rip

glad i had a chance to see him live. wish i had a chance for my kids to experience it.

Stanford · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 254 Location: Nor Cal

Sad news, lost another great here in Doc.
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revloren · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 635 Location: Agrestic Village

steven hatcher · Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Posts: 2003 Location: Idahome

Wow, big news.

Doc Watson was a tradition bearer and a national treasure. Within his sightless body was stored the histories, stories, cultural values, attitudes, and belief systems of numerous generations of Americans who made their way in and out of the area around Deep Gap, North Carolina. He was the seed tree in a productive orchard whose roots grew the deepest and whose branches bore the sweetest fruit. He learned from the best (Clarence Ashley, Gaither Carlton, Uncle Dave Macon, Mississippi John Hurt) and transferred his knowledge to teach some of the best (Clarence White, Ricky Skaggs).

In 1988 Doc Watson received a National Heritage Fellowship awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts. In 1997 he won the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists by the United States Government, and it was presented to him by President Bill Clinton. Alongside Doc Watson in 1988 were other not so well-known tradition bearers as Kepka Belton, a Czech-American egg painter; Amber Densmore, a New England quilter/needleworker; Willa Mae Ford Smith, a gospel singer from St. Louis; and Michael Flatley an Irish-American stepdancer. Like Doc Watson these people represent masters both of their craft as well as the connecting links between the craft and the communities from which they emerge. These masters act to preserve certain traditions as custodians but through performance they also transmit and solidify the life of the expressive craft. They are key participants in the complex web of any culture's past, present, and history and with the passing of Doc Watson our country just lost something essential.

RIP
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wayne · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 1066 Location: NY State

Doc was a great one. I'm glad I got to see him perform. RIP.
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Pinnah · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 3548 Location: Bahston

What a loss
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Jeff T · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Posts: 612 Location: central MA

Such a distinctive voice and picking style. An absolute original. First exposed to him in the early 70's at a concert (with son Merle) at Sanders theater.
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Dirk · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 5340 Location: Vermont

I was fortunate to see Doc a few times over the years, with Merle in the early days and most recently with Norman Blake. Quiet and self-effacing, he was the core that the rest of the flat-picking universe revolved around. He will be missed.

skifreeK · Joined: 06 Dec 2004 Posts: 11426

Amazing man.

Amazing talent.

Thanks Doc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUDwAgApoQw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ugpejfhu9H8&