From a list I'm on..
Oct. 20th, 2005 09:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
captain_philA pretty good article about
Wilson Daily Times, North Carolina
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Doc Watson loves making music
By Keith Barnes
You could tell that Doc Watson was glad to be home again.
The legendary musician had just returned to his home near Deep Gap (between
Boone and North Wilkesboro) after playing a 10-day concert tour in
California.
He's taking a break prior to his next performance at the Wilson Whirligig
Festival Nov. 5.
Plan to get to the show early if you want a good spot for the free 12:30
p.m. concert in front of the BB&T towers on Nash Street.
Watson, who's played here before, will be performing many of his trademark
songs and will be accompanied by his grandson Richard Watson on the guitar.
FAMILY AND MUSIC
While Doc Watson was willing to discuss his successful music career, he
seemed happier talking about his family during a phone interview this week.
"My little lady (wife Rosalee) is using a walker now since she fell and
broke her hip," said Watson. "I worry about her a lot.
"We've been married 58 years," he said. "That's a long time, but it seems
like such a short time now. My daughter, Nancy, lives close by and has been
helping me take care of her."
Watson is 82 years old and has been playing music and singing most of his
life, having learned to play the harmonica at age 5.
His father made him a banjo when he was 11, and he has been off and running
ever since.
"People think it's good to reach 82, until they get up there," he joked. He
also hinted that he might not be touring much longer.
Although Watson has become a musical legend, his family roots are still
entrenched in Deep Gap.
"I love working, but I love being at home more than anything, he said. "I
can always figure out something to do around the house. I wish I could
drive," he said laughing.
Watson has been blind since age 1 but has never let it be a hindrance to
him.
Watson, whose real name is Arthel, got the name Doc accidentally.
"We were playing in a furniture store (in the 1950s)," he said. "They were
carrying it on the radio, and the announcer said I needed a nickname.
Someone yelled out 'Let's call him Doc.' "
Watson claims not to be a good guitar player, although his many fans might
disagree.
He specializes in a type of guitar playing called flatpicking, which he
explained is like playing fiddle tunes on a guitar.
"I played a lot of square dances in the '50s that gave me years of wonderful
technical practice on the guitar," he said.
Watson's biggest heartbreak came in 1985 when his son, Merle, was killed in
a tractor accident.
Doc and Merle had toured together playing music for years, and it is obvious
in listening to him that Doc is still saddened by the loss of his son.
Today, the musical extravaganza Merlefest is held annually in Merle's memory
in North Wilkesboro. Watson explained how it got started.
"In the fall of '87 they wanted me to do a concert at Wilkes Community
College to help raise money for a memorial garden at the school for Merle.
"It mushroomed when all of Merle's friends came," Watson said. "Everyone
paid their own expenses and played for free, including some big names like
Earl Scruggs."
The event has grown to be four days long with more than 100 groups or
individual acts performing almost continuously on six different stages.
"Merle was one of the finest musicians in the world," Watson said. "He loved
everybody he met, and everybody loved him."
"I really miss him," Watson said. "I wish to God his life would have lasted
longer."
Watson said he has admired many musicians during his life, but Chet Atkins
was probably his favorite. "He could do things with a guitar that no one
else could do."
Watson said he really doesn't have a clearly defined style of music, but one
person described it as "traditional American folk music, mixed in with a
little blue grass, rockabilly, country and pop." In other words, he can
perform almost any kind of song.
As for his all-time favorite songs, Watson said he liked "at least 1,000,"
but maybe at the top are "Special Angel" by Bobby Helms and "Shady Grove."
He said "Shady Grove" was one of Rosalee's favorites when they were
courting.
Watson said he got into music for three reasons: love of music, love of
family and love of a good audience.
His advice for youngsters just starting out in the music world?
"In the first place, practice and find out if you're talented enough to be a
good musician," he said "because not everybody is."
"Then, practice like the devil, and be sure you love it. Practice until
you're smooth with what you do, don't let it go to your head and keep
working hard at it," he said.
"Talent is God-given, it's not manufactured. You don't develop your style,
it develops itself."
Wilson Daily Times, North Carolina
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Doc Watson loves making music
By Keith Barnes
You could tell that Doc Watson was glad to be home again.
The legendary musician had just returned to his home near Deep Gap (between
Boone and North Wilkesboro) after playing a 10-day concert tour in
California.
He's taking a break prior to his next performance at the Wilson Whirligig
Festival Nov. 5.
Plan to get to the show early if you want a good spot for the free 12:30
p.m. concert in front of the BB&T towers on Nash Street.
Watson, who's played here before, will be performing many of his trademark
songs and will be accompanied by his grandson Richard Watson on the guitar.
FAMILY AND MUSIC
While Doc Watson was willing to discuss his successful music career, he
seemed happier talking about his family during a phone interview this week.
"My little lady (wife Rosalee) is using a walker now since she fell and
broke her hip," said Watson. "I worry about her a lot.
"We've been married 58 years," he said. "That's a long time, but it seems
like such a short time now. My daughter, Nancy, lives close by and has been
helping me take care of her."
Watson is 82 years old and has been playing music and singing most of his
life, having learned to play the harmonica at age 5.
His father made him a banjo when he was 11, and he has been off and running
ever since.
"People think it's good to reach 82, until they get up there," he joked. He
also hinted that he might not be touring much longer.
Although Watson has become a musical legend, his family roots are still
entrenched in Deep Gap.
"I love working, but I love being at home more than anything, he said. "I
can always figure out something to do around the house. I wish I could
drive," he said laughing.
Watson has been blind since age 1 but has never let it be a hindrance to
him.
Watson, whose real name is Arthel, got the name Doc accidentally.
"We were playing in a furniture store (in the 1950s)," he said. "They were
carrying it on the radio, and the announcer said I needed a nickname.
Someone yelled out 'Let's call him Doc.' "
Watson claims not to be a good guitar player, although his many fans might
disagree.
He specializes in a type of guitar playing called flatpicking, which he
explained is like playing fiddle tunes on a guitar.
"I played a lot of square dances in the '50s that gave me years of wonderful
technical practice on the guitar," he said.
Watson's biggest heartbreak came in 1985 when his son, Merle, was killed in
a tractor accident.
Doc and Merle had toured together playing music for years, and it is obvious
in listening to him that Doc is still saddened by the loss of his son.
Today, the musical extravaganza Merlefest is held annually in Merle's memory
in North Wilkesboro. Watson explained how it got started.
"In the fall of '87 they wanted me to do a concert at Wilkes Community
College to help raise money for a memorial garden at the school for Merle.
"It mushroomed when all of Merle's friends came," Watson said. "Everyone
paid their own expenses and played for free, including some big names like
Earl Scruggs."
The event has grown to be four days long with more than 100 groups or
individual acts performing almost continuously on six different stages.
"Merle was one of the finest musicians in the world," Watson said. "He loved
everybody he met, and everybody loved him."
"I really miss him," Watson said. "I wish to God his life would have lasted
longer."
Watson said he has admired many musicians during his life, but Chet Atkins
was probably his favorite. "He could do things with a guitar that no one
else could do."
Watson said he really doesn't have a clearly defined style of music, but one
person described it as "traditional American folk music, mixed in with a
little blue grass, rockabilly, country and pop." In other words, he can
perform almost any kind of song.
As for his all-time favorite songs, Watson said he liked "at least 1,000,"
but maybe at the top are "Special Angel" by Bobby Helms and "Shady Grove."
He said "Shady Grove" was one of Rosalee's favorites when they were
courting.
Watson said he got into music for three reasons: love of music, love of
family and love of a good audience.
His advice for youngsters just starting out in the music world?
"In the first place, practice and find out if you're talented enough to be a
good musician," he said "because not everybody is."
"Then, practice like the devil, and be sure you love it. Practice until
you're smooth with what you do, don't let it go to your head and keep
working hard at it," he said.
"Talent is God-given, it's not manufactured. You don't develop your style,
it develops itself."
