Deep River Blues - Merle & Doc Watson (Dellmoore Bros. 1935) - Doc Watson On Stage (1967) 51' Z HiFi

"Doc" Arthel Lane Watson was the preeminent virtuoso of guitar ( also numerous other instruments) discovered by Alan Lomax in 1958, during a recording session with his neighbor, Clarence Ashley, in which Doc showed up with an electric guitar which horrified Lomax. Later in the session in between takes Doc and Ashley were overhead singing an ancient British ballad while doc finger-picked on Ashley's acoustic guitar. Lomax was so impressed he recorded two albums ( Old Time Music At Clarence Ashley's Volume 1 &2 1960).
Blinded in early childhood, Doc learned from records, radio, family and local artists and spent much of his life as a carpenter; building his own home among others in the Blue ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. His oldest son Merle Watson (1949-1985) played and toured internationally with his father from age 14 until his untimely death 20 years later when a tractor turned over on him at their farm in Deep Gap, NC. Doc said his son was the better player.He continued to perform with his grandson until his death in 2012. He received 7 Grammy awards, several Lifetime Achievement Awards, and the National Endowment For the Arts.

I saw him perform a dozen times at venues over the last 20 years of his life starting with the Paramount Theatre in Bristol, Tn, and ending with his last public concert at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. I Got the privilage of meeting him and shaking his hand twice backstage. He was a very humble, generous and kind man.