United States
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Doc Watson
Deep Gap, United States
Archival Overview
Blind American folk, bluegrass, and country guitarist whose astonishing flatpicking speed, warm baritone singing, and deep Appalachian heritage won eight Grammy Awards and the National Medal of Arts.
Biographical Record
Arthel Lane 'Doc' Watson was blinded by an eye infection before his first birthday in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Encouraged by his father to work and play music, he mastered the banjo before developing a revolutionary technique: playing rapid-fire fiddle fiddle tunes note-for-note on the acoustic flat-top guitar.
Discovered by folklorist Ralph Rinzler in 1960, Watson became a central figure of the American folk revival, performing at the Newport Folk Festival and Carnegie Hall. Playing alongside his son Merle Watson, he recorded dozens of masterly albums, founded the annual MerleFest music festival in Wilkesboro, and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
Key Life Milestones
Will the Circle Be Unbroken Album
Starred in the historic triple album bridging traditional country music and 1970s rock musicians.
National Medal of Arts
Awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Bill Clinton for his preservation of American folk heritage.
Memorial Guestbook & Tributes
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Final Resting Place
Perpetual MemorialDeep Gap, United States