Doc Watson was folk music's first virtuoso. When the man from Deep Gap, South Carolina joined the 60's folk revival (actually, it joined him), he was already a folk music legend, known for his pleasing performance style which embraced blues, bluegrass, country and gospel, as well as the music of his own mountain heritage. And there was that virtuosity thing. It was important because Doc's combination of authentic roots and dazzling technique brought new respect to old music at a time when anything rural was often seen as backward. His performance at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival made him an international star. Forty plus years of touring, 38 studio albums and 15 live albums left us a lot to remember him by. Here Doc test-drives a twelve-string at McCabe's in the late 70's. He was showing his fanciest licks to Dave Van Ronk and Jim Kweskin, who had pulled up chairs and were kibitzing every note. Doc Watson died in 2012 at age 89.

RETURN TO PHOTO PAGE

© 2017 Ellen Griffith - RECALL MUSIC