Farewell, Doc Watson
May. 29th, 2012 09:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
filkertomGreat sadness. One of the legends of American folk music, Doc Watson, has passed away at the age of 89.
Watson changed everything by doing what no one had. His melodic flatpicking elevated the guitar from a rhythm backup to a lead and solo instrument for folk, country, blues, and bluegrass. He also helped introduce much of the country to the folk music of Appalachia, and was still performing as recently as last month (at MerleFest, the folk festival he hosted in memory of his son Merle [who was killed in an accident in 1985].)
In other words, the man basically reinvented traditional American music.
If you've never heard his wonderful, clean style and gentle, resonant voice, here's Doc doing "Deep River Blues", and here's him and Merle performing "Summertime".
Farewell, Doc, and many thanks.
Watson changed everything by doing what no one had. His melodic flatpicking elevated the guitar from a rhythm backup to a lead and solo instrument for folk, country, blues, and bluegrass. He also helped introduce much of the country to the folk music of Appalachia, and was still performing as recently as last month (at MerleFest, the folk festival he hosted in memory of his son Merle [who was killed in an accident in 1985].)
In other words, the man basically reinvented traditional American music.
If you've never heard his wonderful, clean style and gentle, resonant voice, here's Doc doing "Deep River Blues", and here's him and Merle performing "Summertime".
Farewell, Doc, and many thanks.
