I met Doc Watson in a Walmart in Boone N.C. about twenty years ago while I was on vacation. He went by us with his wife, holding lightly to the buggy. I was 50 years old and was just awestruck. "That's Doc Watson!" I whispered to my wife, so excited I almost couldn't speak. "You should go up and say hi," she said, but I didn't want to intrude. Doc, with his amazing hearing, caught the whole exchange. "Son, step on up here." He introduced us to his wife and we talked for about five minutes about music and life. He asked how long we'd been married and when I told him 22 years he smiled. He shook both our hands and continued on with his shopping. One of the high points of my life.
thank you for sharing that beautiful story. i am so happy to hear he was as kind as he seemed from his voice... i love his music and warmth...bless his memory.
I met Doc Watson when I was 10 years old in 1961. This was before he became world famous. My father was his cousin and my grandfather lived just down the road from Doc. So my father took me up to Doc's house and we sat in his kitchen and as my father and Doc talked, he asked Doc if he could play something for him and me. Doc was happy to do so and he played and sang for me and my father. Doc was a wonderful man. Little did I know then, just how lucky I was. Something to remember.
My grandfather was on dialysis most of his adult life. He had 3 kidney transplants. He decided he didnt want to suffer any more and quit dialysis. He was left with 7 days to live. We spent those 7 days in a hospice facility with him eating hot wings and listening to blue grass. He died to this song. It sure does always evoke emotion when i hear it!!!!
Doc was a trooper. I don't think he was feeling well the last few months of his life, but it didn't stop him from doing what he loved best, playing for the folks. R.I.P Doc.
What is art at its highest? "I have seen the David I've seen the Mona Lisa too I have heard Doc Watson Play Columbus Stockade Blues" Guy Clark, Dublin Blues
That was my old man's favorite hymn...he's been home 20 years on 7 November...I always think of him when I hear this hymn.. RIP George A. Hyatt...the best dad a kid could ever hope to have.
Names mean something and stand for something and I'm glad you're free and unafraid to say George's name I've never been sorry either and I am not ashamed
When a man gets to do what he loves until the day he dies is a truly wondrous thing to behold. I would say Rest In Peace but I wouldn't mean it - I imagine ol' Doc is sitting in that town square up there putting on quite a show.
Tony, that really hit home with me. I have two kids, and I can't think of what it would be like to not be able to see them. I'm sure they're picking together now.
I am from Greece. I heard Doc playing his music 28 years ago. Since then he is one my most beloved singers and song writers. From him i learned Bluegrass, from Howlin' Wolf the Blues and from Richman the light side of rock 'n' roll...Thank you Doc for all the great moments i had listening your music...may God rest your soul.
@@frankd.506 I must have been cursed. I was never fortunate enough to have an opportunity to see him. I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic. It's amazing how Doc managed to keep on after losing Merle. He was not only his son, but a constant musical companion and travelling guide and helper. A bitter, bitter loss for him. It was great to see his grandson coming along and be able to take over his Merle's role as musical partner, helper, etc.
@@gynack Merlefest was really special, I've seen Tony Rice, Norm Blake and Bela Fleck to name a few, On your side of the pond you might try and catch Beppe Gambeta who was heavily influenced by American flat pickers and plays beautifully,from Italy if the name didn't give it away, good luck to you.
@@frankd.506 Thanks for your reply. I looked up Beppe Gambetta's website. He's touring mainland Europe at the moment, and is going out to the USA in the New Year and touring there. His calendar gives a detailed itinerary. You might be in luck - again. 😊
I was there. Funny before this song they got all tuned up in F-sharp or some strange key and Doc said he didn't want to do that so he just started playing in whatever key he was in. The others had a pretty hard time. Haha. It was great.
Incredible Doc can still make those chromatic runs up and down the guitar at 90 years old. When he got real sick several years ago, Earl Scruggs flew him to a hospital in his private plane and stayed with him until he recovered. Both loved The Lord and were national treasures.
@@amygwenn4220 I bet if as many people as you believers made public comments about not believing in what you believe to be the Lord, your loving Father in Heaven, you'd all become very irritated. However, despite my lack of belief, I can still enjoy much religious music, and actually perform it often in my local choir. It is a staple of a lot of choral singing. And of course, there's the mandatory Christmas Carol concert in the local church in which I have to participate as a member of the choir... Ach weel, it's all music!
@@gynack I'm sorry Trevor, I don't understand what you mean. As a believer I can only speak for myself. I don't become irritated whether or not I share my faith with others. There's also no shame in loving music and enjoying it regardless of one's belief. So having said that I pray you find peace and happiness. :-)
@@amygwenn4220 Surely you've imagination enough to understand that it can irritate non-believers when believers continually go on about the goodness of a god they don't accept exists, at least not in any way like the major religions preach. It's hardly a meaningful profession of faith to assert on YT that god has blessed us with someone's singing ability. Non-believers don't tell people that a wonderful performance is nothing to do with god but purely hard work, inborn ability and maybe an element of luck. Actually, Steve's comment was one of he less irritating ones because he is telling us that Doc and Scruggs were religious, of some relevance because they did sing religious songs. However, he chose to put it such a way as to declare his own faith which is completely irrelevant to Doc's and Scruggs' religious convictions, and also irrelevant to critical appreciation of the music. I'm 100% that a lot of religious people would be annoyed by me if I always included comments about there's no god making these performers special. My belief is completely irrelevant to the critical appreciation of the merits of the music. And let us remember that there is just as much secular music that is as beautiful as religious music. And for the record, probably the most gorgeous piece of music I have ever sung in many years of choir singing, was Faure's Requiem, a setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. Faure, ironically, was an atheist!
I saw Doc perform on the streets of Lenoir, NC when I was a child. Our pastor, Gene Watson, was Doc's first cousin. Doc sang at Gene's mother's and father's funerals. I went to Merlefest (which is held about 15 miles from my home) many times and looked forward to seeing Doc. It's not the same without him. One year on Sunday morning, he sang "Wayfaring Stranger," and I cried because it was one of my mother's favorite hymns and she had died just the week before. There's a wonderful bronze statue of Doc sitting on a bench and holding his guitar; it's in downtown Boone, NC. Doc proved that being blind is a handicap only if one lets it be. He was a wonderful man.
Louise, thanks for your comment. I had the rare privilege of seeing Doc and Merle at a little place in Santa Cruz, Kuumbwa, back in the mid-70's. I probably sat no more than about 6 ft. from them. Doc was one of my first inspirations to get into bluegrass music. His music has had a lot of meaning for me over the years. RIP.
I'm in a wheelchair. I have a handy cap.. but I take it off in the house That's one of the places I learned it from.. I started trying to pick like him when I was 13.. been trying ever since.. and his dignity and strength were always in my mind.. and there when I needed it myself.. RIP brother 🙏 Peace ✌☮
Rest easy brother Doc. A true source of divine inspiration,on the level of which very few will ever know. ....For the 87 folks that felt obligated to dislike this video, please show me just what it is that you're listening to?? I can say with supreme confidence it cannot hold a candle to any record that featured Doc in any capacity. May god have mercy on your troubled souls....
Vous, les Américains, avez raison de dire que Doc Watson était l'un de vos trésors nationaux ! Même s'il est peu connu ici en France, ou en Europe, il représente pour tous ceux qui l'aiment, le meilleur de la culture profonde des États-Unis, pas la culture artificielle imposée par l'industrie du disque (qui fait des ravages dans le monde entier depuis des décennies...) J'écoute Doc Watson depuis 40 ans sans me lasser ; c'était un fabuleux guitariste, au jeu génial et en même temps incroyable de facilité, et surtout de naturel (Chet Atkins, extraordinaire technicien, semble en comparaison froid, sans vie : c'est la virtuosité pour la virtuosité. Idem pour Marcel Dadi, qui a eu le mérite de faire découvrir Doc aux français). De ce point de vue, et dans un tout autre genre, je peux le comparer à Manitas de Plata. Mais Doc Watson avait en plus une humanité charismatique, que renforçaient une solide foi chrétienne, un courage exemplaire face aux épreuves de la vie et un fabuleux humour. Toutes ces qualités rayonnent littéralement à travers les vidéos, nombreuses heureusement sur UA-cam, qui nous permettent de revoir et d'entendre encore et encore ce merveilleux artiste.
+Thierry Hatot Je ne parle pas français, mais compris (très peu) de ma connaissance de l'espagnol et latin. Il me plaît de savoir que quelques-uns à l'extérieur des États-Unis apprécient que nous ne sommes pas tous ce que notre culture de masse nous présente comme. La musique de Doc me réchauffe le cœur parce que ses influences sont similaires à la mienne, et les nombreux Américains rurales qui ne sont pas représentés dans les médias. Nous vous remercions de vos commentaires, et que Dieu vous et nos amis en France bénisse. (Traduit par la traduction de Google, pour le meilleur ou pour le pire :))
Vive La France! Si Doc a fait/joue seulement "Deep River Blues" cela seulement serait [enough] mais il a fait beaucoup encore/plus! Je suis heureux a comprendre que les Francaises entendre le "Doc"!
I am French ,and I have seen Doc in France in concert 3 times, I even spoke to him shortly after a concert where he signed a 33 RPM record for me ! this was about 44 years ago .Doc was a musical genius !
The best flatpicker EVER! I've heard them all and none achieve the cleanness and tone of his picking. His was a talent from God and I'm sure God has him picking for a heavenly concert every evening.
May God bless us banjo and guitar players with the ability to bring love and music to all. Music saved my life years ago. Listening to Doc makes me realize how blessed we are to have his music in our world.
zerblis I don't know whether this will cheer you up. Try to keep a sense of humour. ua-cam.com/video/W9sAV4FwIW8/v-deo.html These guys were Irish, starting off in the late 50's, actually in New York. A lot of their material was Irish folk songs. They pre-dated the Dubliners who followed on after them, also singing a lot of Irish folk songs. I hope you enjoy. At 76 myself, I try to find things to laugh at. I have to be careful about politics though because I find myself getting wound up about the current UK government, aye and the American one, if I think about them too much.
Rest in Peace! Seen him live, and I will see him again. On those celestial shores, or somewhere on the east side of Appalachia, which you may know is another part of heaven. Mr. Wayne Henderson must be proper proud too with that guitar being in the performance. Legends!
Fantisc backing band great musicians.but you can cleary see. By docs expression .and playing he was realy struggling ..but heyho iadmire this man because. He plays from his soul .
I met him - shook his hand! - around 1968 on Long Island NY at a concert that went to as a young man. It made me a Doc Watson fan. I'm still one to this day.40 some years later!
I can't believe your gone eight years, November 19, 2008. My life, will NEVER be the same without you, you were not only my Dad you were my BEST friend. I can't, go on anymore Daddy, I feel so lost without you in this cold world. Why, can't God let me be with you again? Rest in peace, my precious Angel I love you Daddy. Always know, you will NEVER be forgotten. I love you with all my heart.
Like doc there.. I learned guitar first by,playing those ole gospel songs that we sang in church I still play them. I learned alot watching doc play We just good old mountain people,, And ain't nothing wrong with that I miss him. Im getting old too,,,
I have spent most of my life unaware of the greatness of bluegrass and its extraordinarily talented performers. Doc Watson was surely well in the top 5 of them. Wonderful voice and emotion, awesome guitarist.
Depuis la France merci pour toute cette beauté dans vos morceaux. Depuis l'age de 15 ans je vous écoute. 28 ans de bonheur, reposez en paix MONSIEUR DOC WATSON.
I first saw Doc Watson on a Saturday night variety show in the fall of 1963. He played Deep River Blues and I was knocked out. I didn't know his name and it took me a while to find out who he was--Not a lot of Doc fans in West Texas back then. When I got to college in Detroit in the fall of 1964, I went into a record store and there was Doc's first solo album: DOC WATSON. I bought that and ended up with thirty or so lps and cds. He still gives me the chills with his playing and I am 80 years old and have been listening for over 60 years. Saw him live a few times in L.A. at the Ash Grove.
I asked Doc to sign my fiddle in the dressing room at The Sweetwater. He said "I'm blind, Son. What makes you think that I can write?" I said "I know that you went to the Raleigh School for the Blind and I have your songbook where you scrawled your name on the cover". He said "Why Merle, this fella knows more about me than I do. Sign this fella's fiddle for both of us". Merle wrote "Doc and Merle Watson" on my fiddle and died a week later in a tractor accident. RIP & RIP.
The fact he could even still play at all at this age! He was 89 years old when he passed away. The only other person I heard play older than this was Elizabeth Cotton who was 90. Doc always was one of my favorite guitar players ever. I grew up trying to play guitar like he did and played more Doc Watson songs than probably any others when it came to folk and bluegrass. He left a permanent mark on American music and affected it forever. He set the standard for clean and fast flat picking everyone else followed.
You're so right about Doc setting the standard. And in terms of age, Doc was definitely "up there." But there have been others. There's a clip on UA-cam of Pete Seeger playing the banjo on the radio from June 2013, when he was 94. And the great Spanish classical guitarist, Andres Segovia, did his final American tour a few months before he died at the age of 94.
I saw Bill Monroe at the last Bean Blossom festival he played at. He was 95 at the time. Someone from the audience called out "Rawhide" (a breakneck tune of his). The audience laughed a little as did Mr. Monroe, who then proceeded to tear it up about 80% of the way he'd played in younger days, but still jaw dropping. Clean living.. I guess.
Patrick Farrell Funny about Bill Monroe! He maybe defined clean living. Pete Seeger, he also lived a full life and earned it. An amazing person. When I saw Elizabeth Cotton, it was Pete's son Mike who was traveling with her to take care of her.
So I grew up in NJ and somehow my buddy and I became enamored with bluegrass and became huge Doc Watson fans in the late 70s. We saw him in Lincoln Center in NYC. To this day he inspires me like no other - the combination of his immense talent, authenticity and humility is singular. His rendition of Nothing To It is other wordly.
Hi Cortez. MerleFest is working on a Doc Watson project and would like permission to use your video. Can you please get back to me with a way to reach you to discuss?
I remember watching the monroes and Doc Watson at Bluegrass jams in Tullahoma Tennessee when I was a kid, the music sounds every bit as good today as it did then Timeless and priceless I'll miss them forever God bless you. Doc Watson Semper Fi
My Dad was a friend of Doc and Merle. When he was in California we were at many of his concerts. He even showed up to our old folk music camp in the lower Calif. Sierra.
Was fortunate enough to be at this performance and I remember remarking to my wife that Doc was in really great spirits, joking and taking lots of solos. Wonderful memory.
Woo son! Doc Watson has flown away but his music will live on forever. My God what a great treasure he was. Thank Goodness for the great folks that keep this kind of thing alive and well. People like Billy strings come to mind and I pray that the music industry of today doesn't corrupt their traditional roots.
We attended Merlefest several times, and our favorite event there was the Sunday morning gospel jam with Doc and the Nashville Bluegrass Band. We will never forget what a great man Doc was and his amazing guitar picking.
I worked at the Waffle Express for the Jewels and had started my business in Blowing Rock so I waited tables third shift cuz I couldn’t afford to take a draw off the company yet…he’d come in after 11 or so with an entourage, maybe he’d played at Shadrack’s…didn’t matter. I had no idea who this dude was but I knew I was making a fresh pot of coffee for someone who you’d serve nothing less than.
j'ai été vraiment très ému à l'annonce de son décès. C'est pour moi un monument de technique et de sensibilité. Il a accompagné des moments clés de mon existence. Il est ahurissant de virtuosité, et la facilité avec laquelle il interprète ses morceaux les rend accessibles à tous.
accessibles a tous? pas pour moi... mais j'ai 72 ans, je ne me lasse pas d'entendre cet artiste a la vie si riche et pourtant difficile a cause de sa cécité et de la perte de son talentueux fils!
I amon my wifes youtube i was raisd in wikesboro. I never forget seeing him play and alot other im on my wifes youtube acc ive play blue grass All my life my name is michael i just wonted to ask a ? Even thow i live here and have been there a cuple times i just wonted to. Ask anyone I have wrote over 100 songs and i i was woonting to find out how i could get my music heard. I thought about puting on line but im scard to I was wondering if i put my songs on say youtube could someone still my song. My 2nd ? Is i heard they have a singer song writer contest Id love to do that if anyone knows what i should do plz let me knkw thank u
A national treasure. Thank you Doc, for all the hours of joy I had listening to you play guitar and sing. I know you are seeing things in heaven we can't even imagine here.
me and the dirty dozen, we remember the early 80's, watching doc and merle, along with countless other classic bluegrass artist, from ricky scaggs to virginia gentlemen, to grandpa jones, remember the American sportsman campground ,in smithfield va, hello to my gone but not forgoten brother Joe Justice,
I was never fortunate enough to know of Doc growing up. Dirt poor in the mountains we just didn't get much music other than what we made cause we didn't have a radio or TV but later in life after I was in the service and I heard about him I sure learned a lot from him even after he was alive. So he's influenced players even after his time which is pretty cool! Seeing him here for the first time as a senior, which I am now technically I guess, it is very special he was so on even up to the last year of his life. Pretty dang cool. Thanks for sharing
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I met Doc Watson in a Walmart in Boone N.C. about twenty years ago while I was on vacation. He went by us with his wife, holding lightly to the buggy. I was 50 years old and was just awestruck. "That's Doc Watson!" I whispered to my wife, so excited I almost couldn't speak. "You should go up and say hi," she said, but I didn't want to intrude. Doc, with his amazing hearing, caught the whole exchange. "Son, step on up here." He introduced us to his wife and we talked for about five minutes about music and life. He asked how long we'd been married and when I told him 22 years he smiled. He shook both our hands and continued on with his shopping. One of the high points of my life.
❤️
This story made my morning so much brighter. Thanks for sharing. I loathe Walmart though. :)
thank you for sharing that beautiful story. i am so happy to hear he was as kind as he seemed from his voice... i love his music and warmth...bless his memory.
fred johnson lucky!
Love it! That’s awesome!
Doc Watson died May 29, 2012. This performance was April 29, 2012. May he rest in peace, singing on forever!
I met Doc Watson when I was 10 years old in 1961. This was before he became world famous. My father was his cousin and my grandfather lived just down the road from Doc. So my father took me up to Doc's house and we sat in his kitchen and as my father and Doc talked, he asked Doc if he could play something for him and me. Doc was happy to do so and he played and sang for me and my father. Doc was a wonderful man. Little did I know then, just how lucky I was. Something to remember.
That is so cool!
My grandfather was on dialysis most of his adult life. He had 3 kidney transplants. He decided he didnt want to suffer any more and quit dialysis. He was left with 7 days to live. We spent those 7 days in a hospice facility with him eating hot wings and listening to blue grass. He died to this song. It sure does always evoke emotion when i hear it!!!!
Doc was a trooper. I don't think he was feeling well the last few months of his life, but it didn't stop him from doing what he loved best, playing for the folks. R.I.P Doc.
popoaggie music probably helped him feel better
Just watch the SMILE light up his face when he heard the applause and laughter of the crowd..
Oh yeah, he was enjoying the moments,
What is art at its highest?
"I have seen the David
I've seen the Mona Lisa too
I have heard Doc Watson
Play Columbus Stockade Blues"
Guy Clark, Dublin Blues
That was my old man's favorite hymn...he's been home 20 years on 7 November...I always think of him when I hear this hymn.. RIP George A. Hyatt...the best dad a kid could ever hope to have.
Names mean something and stand for something and I'm glad you're free and unafraid to say George's name I've never been sorry either and I am not ashamed
When a man gets to do what he loves until the day he dies is a truly wondrous thing to behold. I would say Rest In Peace but I wouldn't mean it - I imagine ol' Doc is sitting in that town square up there putting on quite a show.
I couldn't help but smile when he passed. I thought, "This morning Doc finally laid eyes on Merle."
Tony, that really hit home with me. I have two kids, and I can't think of what it would be like to not be able to see them. I'm sure they're picking together now.
Tony Wood Very nice, Tony.
Very well put.
Glyn Wood amen!
Some people don't realize this is sacred stuff here! Blessed art Doc and Blessed art this wonderful old American Hymn!
Amen, by Albert Brumley
Amen 🙏
Who the hell thumbs down a man's final performance on this Earth? I never seen the likes of some people on youtube.
I agree. Wow
Stupid and Disrespectful are just somethings that mankind can not fix. Only God can
People can be horrible.
Probably black lives matters members
If anyone ever doubted someone was born to make music, take a look at Doc Watson.
I am from Greece. I heard Doc playing his music 28 years ago. Since then he is one my most beloved singers and song writers. From him i learned Bluegrass, from Howlin' Wolf the Blues and from Richman the light side of rock 'n' roll...Thank you Doc for all the great moments i had listening your music...may God rest your soul.
Joseph Modiotis I was blessed to see him a number of times at the festival that's dedicated to his son Merle , Which of course is Merelfest .
@@frankd.506
I must have been cursed. I was never fortunate enough to have an opportunity to see him. I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic.
It's amazing how Doc managed to keep on after losing Merle. He was not only his son, but a constant musical companion and travelling guide and helper. A bitter, bitter loss for him. It was great to see his grandson coming along and be able to take over his Merle's role as musical partner, helper, etc.
@@gynack Merlefest was really special, I've seen Tony Rice, Norm Blake and Bela Fleck to name a few, On your side of the pond you might try and catch Beppe Gambeta who was heavily influenced by American flat pickers and plays beautifully,from Italy if the name didn't give it away, good luck to you.
@@frankd.506
Thanks for your reply. I looked up Beppe Gambetta's website. He's touring mainland Europe at the moment, and is going out to the USA in the New Year and touring there. His calendar gives a detailed itinerary. You might be in luck - again. 😊
@Joseph Modiotis When you say "Richman", who are you referring to? Jonathon Richman, perhaps? I'm curious.
I was lucky enough to book Doc 2 times... fly with him in a small jet and have dinner with him...one of the great memories of my long musical life
A guitar jedi if there ever was one.
Charles Dreadful shut the fuck up
@@oldtimetinfoilhatwearer why be so rude?
Doc Watson. He fought the good fight. He ran the good race until the end. What a great human being.
Well said and great tribute to a real American Treasure
What a fine gentleman!!! Saw Doc many times live over the years, one of thee best flatpickers of All Time!!!
I was there. Funny before this song they got all tuned up in F-sharp or some strange key and Doc said he didn't want to do that so he just started playing in whatever key he was in. The others had a pretty hard time. Haha. It was great.
It shows.
He's 89 in this clip and still picking with the best of em. If I make it to 89 I'll be happy if I can still pick my nose.
Doc is playing a guitar made by his good friend Wayne Henderson. Sweet.
Incredible Doc can still make those chromatic runs up and down the guitar at 90 years old. When he got real sick several years ago, Earl Scruggs flew him to a hospital in his private plane and stayed with him until he recovered. Both loved The Lord and were national treasures.
+Steve Panther The lord, what are you on about?
Making a public comment about loving the Lord. our Father in heaven brings no shame...Amen Steve Panther,God bless you+yours......
@@amygwenn4220
I bet if as many people as you believers made public comments about not believing in what you believe to be the Lord, your loving Father in Heaven, you'd all become very irritated.
However, despite my lack of belief, I can still enjoy much religious music, and actually perform it often in my local choir. It is a staple of a lot of choral singing. And of course, there's the mandatory Christmas Carol concert in the local church in which I have to participate as a member of the choir... Ach weel, it's all music!
@@gynack I'm sorry Trevor, I don't understand what you mean. As a believer I can only speak for myself. I don't become irritated whether or not I share my faith with others. There's also no shame in loving music and enjoying it regardless of one's belief. So having said that I pray you find peace and happiness. :-)
@@amygwenn4220
Surely you've imagination enough to understand that it can irritate non-believers when believers continually go on about the goodness of a god they don't accept exists, at least not in any way like the major religions preach. It's hardly a meaningful profession of faith to assert on YT that god has blessed us with someone's singing ability. Non-believers don't tell people that a wonderful performance is nothing to do with god but purely hard work, inborn ability and maybe an element of luck.
Actually, Steve's comment was one of he less irritating ones because he is telling us that Doc and Scruggs were religious, of some relevance because they did sing religious songs. However, he chose to put it such a way as to declare his own faith which is completely irrelevant to Doc's and Scruggs' religious convictions, and also irrelevant to critical appreciation of the music. I'm 100% that a lot of religious people would be annoyed by me if I always included comments about there's no god making these performers special. My belief is completely irrelevant to the critical appreciation of the merits of the music.
And let us remember that there is just as much secular music that is as beautiful as religious music. And for the record, probably the most gorgeous piece of music I have ever sung in many years of choir singing, was Faure's Requiem, a setting of the Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead. Faure, ironically, was an atheist!
I saw Doc perform on the streets of Lenoir, NC when I was a child. Our pastor, Gene Watson, was Doc's first cousin. Doc sang at Gene's mother's and father's funerals. I went to Merlefest (which is held about 15 miles from my home) many times and looked forward to seeing Doc. It's not the same without him. One year on Sunday morning, he sang "Wayfaring Stranger," and I cried because it was one of my mother's favorite hymns and she had died just the week before. There's a wonderful bronze statue of Doc sitting on a bench and holding his guitar; it's in downtown Boone, NC. Doc proved that being blind is a handicap only if one lets it be. He was a wonderful man.
Doc was a classic, I try and flat pick like him but no way.........lol
Louise, thanks for your comment. I had the rare privilege of seeing Doc and Merle at a little place in Santa Cruz, Kuumbwa, back in the mid-70's. I probably sat no more than about 6 ft. from them. Doc was one of my first inspirations to get into bluegrass music. His music has had a lot of meaning for me over the years. RIP.
Born and raised in lenoir, really cool to hear that memory
Legend and much respect 🇬🇧
I'm in a wheelchair. I have a handy cap.. but I take it off in the house
That's one of the places I learned it from.. I started trying to pick like him when I was 13.. been trying ever since.. and his dignity and strength were always in my mind.. and there when I needed it myself.. RIP brother 🙏
Peace ✌☮
Rest easy brother Doc. A true source of divine inspiration,on the level of which very few will ever know.
....For the 87 folks that felt obligated to dislike this video, please show me just what it is that you're listening to??
I can say with supreme confidence it cannot hold a candle to any record that featured Doc in any capacity.
May god have mercy on your troubled souls....
Bit of a harsh comment for just a dislike lol I mean who knows if their souls are troubled
The only thing better is Billy Strings ;)
@@aashaygandhi7213Don't forget about Molly Tuttle!
Man.... all time favorite. This guy is the king.
Vous, les Américains, avez raison de dire que Doc Watson était l'un de vos trésors nationaux ! Même s'il est peu connu ici en France, ou en Europe, il représente pour tous ceux qui l'aiment, le meilleur de la culture profonde des États-Unis, pas la culture artificielle imposée par l'industrie du disque (qui fait des ravages dans le monde entier depuis des décennies...) J'écoute Doc Watson depuis 40 ans sans me lasser ; c'était un fabuleux guitariste, au jeu génial et en même temps incroyable de facilité, et surtout de naturel (Chet Atkins, extraordinaire technicien, semble en comparaison froid, sans vie : c'est la virtuosité pour la virtuosité. Idem pour Marcel Dadi, qui a eu le mérite de faire découvrir Doc aux français). De ce point de vue, et dans un tout autre genre, je peux le comparer à Manitas de Plata. Mais Doc Watson avait en plus une humanité charismatique, que renforçaient une solide foi chrétienne, un courage exemplaire face aux épreuves de la vie et un fabuleux humour. Toutes ces qualités rayonnent littéralement à travers les vidéos, nombreuses heureusement sur UA-cam, qui nous permettent de revoir et d'entendre encore et encore ce merveilleux artiste.
+Thierry Hatot
Je ne parle pas français, mais compris (très peu) de ma connaissance de l'espagnol et latin. Il me plaît de savoir que quelques-uns à l'extérieur des États-Unis apprécient que nous ne sommes pas tous ce que notre culture de masse nous présente comme. La musique de Doc me réchauffe le cœur parce que ses influences sont similaires à la mienne, et les nombreux Américains rurales qui ne sont pas représentés dans les médias. Nous vous remercions de vos commentaires, et que Dieu vous et nos amis en France bénisse.
(Traduit par la traduction de Google, pour le meilleur ou pour le pire :))
Vive La France! Si Doc a fait/joue seulement "Deep River Blues" cela seulement serait [enough] mais il a fait beaucoup encore/plus! Je suis heureux a comprendre que les Francaises entendre le "Doc"!
I am French ,and I have seen Doc in France in concert 3 times, I even spoke to him shortly after a concert where he signed a 33 RPM record for me ! this was about 44 years ago .Doc was a musical genius !
The best flatpicker EVER! I've heard them all and none achieve the cleanness and tone of his picking. His was a talent from God and I'm sure God has him picking for a heavenly concert every evening.
He really is. Though he lives on through Billy Strings. Billy does it pretty darn good. Doc is his idol. You can tell
My husband was a good guitarist and he considered Doc to be the best flat pick player EVER
His personality also comes through his picking.
One the best guitarists that ever drew breath. Thank you.
9
When I get to Heaven I want to meet this fine man , I think God was good to loan him to us all !!
How we loved Doc. Brilliant musician, humble authentic man. A major influence on tens of thousands of us guitar players
The only thing worse than giving a thumbs-down is complaining about one.
Who in the world would stop off here and do a "thumbs down" on Doc? I saw Doc Twice, 2 of my top 3 life memories...
satan, thats who. hes mad he lost
satan is a coward bastard.
loved Doc all my life. Pick on, beloved, pick on.
Ignorance runs amuck!
screwies ARE bound 2 lose - in THE End, they ARE!! Amen!!.... www.lovepeacepresley.dk
If you disliked this video, it’s cause your a nickleback fan
May God bless us banjo and guitar players with the ability to bring love and music to all. Music saved my life years ago.
Listening to Doc makes me realize how blessed we are to have his music in our world.
Lucky too.
Doc was a national treasure!
Is a national treasure.
Onion's Smoke Shack i
IS a national treasure in the Smithsonian
Is
Onion's Smoke Shack BBQ still Is my friend👍👍👍🇺🇸👍🇺🇸 MAGA
At 77, I'm getting closer to flying away.
zerblis
I don't know whether this will cheer you up. Try to keep a sense of humour.
ua-cam.com/video/W9sAV4FwIW8/v-deo.html
These guys were Irish, starting off in the late 50's, actually in New York. A lot of their material was Irish folk songs. They pre-dated the Dubliners who followed on after them, also singing a lot of Irish folk songs. I hope you enjoy.
At 76 myself, I try to find things to laugh at. I have to be careful about politics though because I find myself getting wound up about the current UK government, aye and the American one, if I think about them too much.
Hope you are still with us.
When he played it he actually mention it. He knew hew would fly away. That's why he played it with such passion. To you people it's just a song
If you know anything about music you must know that this the heart and soul of everything that came after in country misic
Rest in Peace! Seen him live, and I will see him again. On those celestial shores, or somewhere on the east side of Appalachia, which you may know is another part of heaven. Mr. Wayne Henderson must be proper proud too with that guitar being in the performance. Legends!
I was privileged to see Doc Watson perform four times and He was both awesome and inspirational on stage......they'll never be another like Him.
Fantisc backing band great musicians.but you can cleary see. By docs expression .and playing he was realy struggling ..but heyho iadmire this man because. He plays from his soul .
So thankful there is an abundance of Doc Watson music available for our future generations to remember him by. Rest in peace sweet man.
I met him - shook his hand! - around 1968 on Long Island NY at a concert that went to as a young man. It made me a Doc Watson fan. I'm still one to this day.40 some years later!
I was stage side during this performance, and so sorry it was the last time I saw him. He influenced many people during his life.
We've lost a true American national treasure, but thank goodness we still have his music.
I can't believe your gone eight years, November 19, 2008. My life, will NEVER be the same without you, you were not only my Dad you were my BEST friend. I can't, go on anymore Daddy, I feel so lost without you in this cold world. Why, can't God let me be with you again? Rest in peace, my precious Angel I love you Daddy. Always know, you will NEVER be forgotten. I love you with all my heart.
One day you will be with Jesus and your dad forever..
He died just 30 days after this was posted. RIP to one of the greatest guitar pickers of all time. I know he's the one I look up to when I play music
I will be happy to be able to just hold the guitar when I'm 89 let alone play it like Doc Watson!
Like doc there.. I learned guitar first by,playing those ole gospel songs that we sang in church
I still play them. I learned alot watching doc play
We just good old mountain people,,
And ain't nothing wrong with that I miss him. Im getting old too,,,
I have spent most of my life unaware of the greatness of bluegrass and its extraordinarily talented performers. Doc Watson was surely well in the top 5 of them. Wonderful voice and emotion, awesome guitarist.
Depuis la France merci pour toute cette beauté dans vos morceaux. Depuis l'age de 15 ans je vous écoute. 28 ans de bonheur, reposez en paix MONSIEUR DOC WATSON.
I first saw Doc Watson on a Saturday night variety show in the fall of 1963. He played Deep River Blues and I was knocked out. I didn't know his name and it took me a while to find out who he was--Not a lot of Doc fans in West Texas back then. When I got to college in Detroit in the fall of 1964, I went into a record store and there was Doc's first solo album: DOC WATSON. I bought that and ended up with thirty or so lps and cds. He still gives me the chills with his playing and I am 80 years old and have been listening for over 60 years. Saw him live a few times in L.A. at the Ash Grove.
A supremely talented musician and a humble guy, loved the man
Doc will go down as an Icon to all people, not just bluegrass fans. A great man and huge talent.
Enjoyed him at The Neighborhood Theater several times...God Bless you Doc Watson and family
God Bless Doc Watson and what he gave us.
"Pick it son"
He knew he would be jamming with Merle again soon.
May Doc Watson Restin Peace RIPGod Bless him, what joy he broought everyone
I asked Doc to sign my fiddle in the dressing room at The Sweetwater.
He said "I'm blind, Son. What makes you think that I can write?"
I said "I know that you went to the Raleigh School for the Blind and I have your songbook where you scrawled your name on the cover".
He said "Why Merle, this fella knows more about me than I do. Sign this fella's fiddle for both of us".
Merle wrote "Doc and Merle Watson" on my fiddle and died a week later in a tractor accident.
RIP & RIP.
C'mon guys, this an exhilarating hymn. Smile.
Doc was the best to ever breath air...
Sorry to learn of Doc's passing (RIP), but he will still
remain in the hearts of millions of us who love his
playing and singing. 🙏🙏🙏🥰🥰🌹🌹❤❤✝️✝️
rest in peace, Doc...what a wonderful musician and person
One by one we'll fly away, but until then we'll gather to say, Goodbye Goodbye Friend.
One of the finest Musicians that ever walked great individual and loved people
How can any one not like this? You thumb downers dont know what great music is.
The fact he could even still play at all at this age! He was 89 years old when he passed away. The only other person I heard play older than this was Elizabeth Cotton who was 90. Doc always was one of my favorite guitar players ever. I grew up trying to play guitar like he did and played more Doc Watson songs than probably any others when it came to folk and bluegrass. He left a permanent mark on American music and affected it forever. He set the standard for clean and fast flat picking everyone else followed.
You're so right about Doc setting the standard. And in terms of age, Doc was definitely "up there." But there have been others. There's a clip on UA-cam of Pete Seeger playing the banjo on the radio from June 2013, when he was 94. And the great Spanish classical guitarist, Andres Segovia, did his final American tour a few months before he died at the age of 94.
I saw Bill Monroe at the last Bean Blossom festival he played at. He was 95 at the time. Someone from the audience called out "Rawhide" (a breakneck tune of his). The audience laughed a little as did Mr. Monroe, who then proceeded to tear it up about 80% of the way he'd played in younger days, but still jaw dropping. Clean living.. I guess.
Patrick Farrell Funny about Bill Monroe! He maybe defined clean living. Pete Seeger, he also lived a full life and earned it. An amazing person. When I saw Elizabeth Cotton, it was Pete's son Mike who was traveling with her to take care of her.
wade mainer played the banjo and did a concert at 101, and played at home until his death at age 104
Patrick Farrell thats fun, since bill lived to be 84.
Hard to believe a month ago he sounded this strong! He was a true legend and an even truer human being. Fly away, Doc!
I only discovered Doc on UA-cam by accident and I think he was fantastic
Doc - nobody like him - never will be.
Doc left us with so many very great moments in music and life! Truly one of the best to share in the "human" experience! Miss you Doc! :)
There will only be just one Doc Watson, what a talent.
This is just phenomenal. Good bluegrass can be amazing.
God bless doc Watson.. Though he is not much known in my country . I have really enjoyed his music..
So I grew up in NJ and somehow my buddy and I became enamored with bluegrass and became huge Doc Watson fans in the late 70s. We saw him in Lincoln Center in NYC. To this day he inspires me like no other - the combination of his immense talent, authenticity and humility is singular. His rendition of Nothing To It is other wordly.
Hi Cortez. MerleFest is working on a Doc Watson project and would like permission to use your video. Can you please get back to me with a way to reach you to discuss?
I remember watching the monroes and Doc Watson at Bluegrass jams in Tullahoma Tennessee when I was a kid, the music sounds every bit as good today as it did then Timeless and priceless I'll miss them forever God bless you. Doc Watson
Semper Fi
Thank you Doc for all the great music you created!You are sadly missed.
He flew away ;(
My Dad was a friend of Doc and Merle. When he was in California we were at many of his concerts. He even showed up to our old folk music camp in the lower Calif. Sierra.
A gentlelness that could penatrate walls. Bless you Doc.
He is with our Lord Jesus, hope I meet him someday. Love you Doc..
@deadend thanks for the kind words, fuckface
@deadend nope, not always
I saw Doc and Earl in the late Sixties about a hundred times at the Main Point coffee house in Philadelphia. Always Great!
Certainly one of the greatest country songs ever.
Was fortunate enough to be at this performance and I remember remarking to my wife that Doc was in really great spirits, joking and taking lots of solos. Wonderful memory.
One of the ALL TIME GREATS. Cheers Doc.
Woo son! Doc Watson has flown away but his music will live on forever. My God what a great treasure he was. Thank Goodness for the great folks that keep this kind of thing alive and well. People like Billy strings come to mind and I pray that the music industry of today doesn't corrupt their traditional roots.
We attended Merlefest several times, and our favorite event there was the Sunday morning gospel jam with Doc and the Nashville Bluegrass Band. We will never forget what a great man Doc was and his amazing guitar picking.
I worked at the Waffle Express for the Jewels and had started my business in Blowing Rock so I waited tables third shift cuz I couldn’t afford to take a draw off the company yet…he’d come in after 11 or so with an entourage, maybe he’d played at Shadrack’s…didn’t matter. I had no idea who this dude was but I knew I was making a fresh pot of coffee for someone who you’d serve nothing less than.
Now THAT’s beautiful!!!🥰
Thanks Doc for a lifetime of great music
j'ai été vraiment très ému à l'annonce de son décès. C'est pour moi un monument de technique et de sensibilité. Il a accompagné des moments clés de mon existence. Il est ahurissant de virtuosité, et la facilité avec laquelle il interprète ses morceaux les rend accessibles à tous.
accessibles a tous? pas pour moi... mais j'ai 72 ans, je ne me lasse pas d'entendre cet artiste a la vie si riche et pourtant difficile a cause de sa cécité et de la perte de son talentueux fils!
Warning this video will make you cry. So sweet, incredible atmosphere.
The master.
I hope when I go to heaven I will jam with doc. I've stole several licks off him sence I was a kid 😂
I amon my wifes youtube i was raisd in wikesboro. I never forget seeing him play and alot other im on my wifes youtube acc ive play blue grass
All my life my name is michael i just wonted to ask a ? Even thow i live here and have been there a cuple times i just wonted to. Ask anyone
I have wrote over 100 songs and i i was woonting to find out how i could get my music heard. I thought about puting on line but im scard to
I was wondering if i put my songs on say youtube could someone still my song. My 2nd ? Is i heard they have a singer song writer contest
Id love to do that if anyone knows what i should do plz let me knkw thank u
I grew up in N. WILKESBORO where he played on the corner of 10 and Main and got tips in a little tin cup
DOC IS HAVING A ROUGH TIME.. NOT A PROBLEM THE MAN WAS THE BEST.
Better at 89 than most in their prime
A national treasure. Thank you Doc, for all the hours of joy I had listening to you play guitar and sing. I know you are seeing things in heaven we can't even imagine here.
Wasn't there...but Doc and my father were good acquaintances...visited his home in Deep Gap many times ...a soul for the ages for sure!!!
me and the dirty dozen, we remember the early 80's, watching doc and merle, along with countless other classic bluegrass artist, from ricky scaggs to virginia gentlemen, to grandpa jones, remember the American sportsman campground ,in smithfield va, hello to my gone but not forgoten brother Joe Justice,
Rest in Peace, Doc Watson. You were one of the best.
I was never fortunate enough to know of Doc growing up. Dirt poor in the mountains we just didn't get much music other than what we made cause we didn't have a radio or TV but later in life after I was in the service and I heard about him I sure learned a lot from him even after he was alive. So he's influenced players even after his time which is pretty cool! Seeing him here for the first time as a senior, which I am now technically I guess, it is very special he was so on even up to the last year of his life. Pretty dang cool. Thanks for sharing
One of my all time favorite songs and there's doc just nailing it!