Doc Watson

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Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson, born March 3, 1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina, is a guitar player, banjo player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music. According to Doc on his three CD biographical recording “Legacy”, he got the nickname “Doc” during a live radio broadcast when the announcer remarked that his given name Arthel was odd and he needed an easy nickname to go by. A fan in the crowd shouted “Call him Doc!” presumably in reference to the Sherlock Holmes sidekick Doctor Watson. The name stuck ever since.

Doc plays guitar in both flatpicking and fingerpicking style, but is best known for his flatpick work. His virtuosity combined with his authenticity as a mountain musician made him a highly influential figure during the folk music revival. He pioneered the fast and flashy bluegrass lead guitar style which has been adopted and extended by others such as Clarence White and Tony Rice. He is also an accomplished banjo player and in the past has accompanied himself on harmonica as well.

In 1986 he received the North Carolina Award and in 2000 he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 1997, Doc received the National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton.

In recent years, Watson has scaled back his touring schedule. However, he still plays various shows around the United States to adoring audiences. He is generally joined on stage by his grandson and Merle’s son Richard as well as his musical partner of twenty years, Jack Lawrence.
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  • I Hear My Mother Weeping
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  • Doc Watson
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  • Songs for Little Pickers
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  • The Best of Doc Watson 1964-1968
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  • IamFlood

    His version of Summertime is incredible.

    January 2012

  • AristideKlopbk

    Where is the vinyl's analogic sound gone ?

    August 2011

  • Jrecklin

    Omie Wise should be one of his top played tracks

    October 2010

  • HampusForever

    I love Alberta. But on Allmusic.com it says the song is written by Leadbelly? But surely Leadbelly's version is not at all the same. Who wrote Alberta?

    August 2010

  • Gabe1955

    Eighteen Mths ago read a Biog of Johnny Cash,the Docs name was mentioned and i came across him again when i read about The Carter Family, down loaded a few trax and can only agree with previous shouts..music is one of the great achievements of Modern Man...how u can one day discover somebody as Wonderfully talented and Musically literate as The Doc...A Fuckin STAR

    August 2010

  • music1naut

    He has such a real, honest voice. You can really feel the emotion in his singing.

    June 2010

  • alexvolpe

    I JUST got this and I'm now listening and I can see Doc becoming one of my favorite artists

    January 2010

  • ebobnar

    Probably my favorite musician of all time. I'd add more of his stuff to my last.fm library but I already listen to him all day as it is :)

    January 2010
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