Doc’s Guitar: The Life and Music of Doc Watson

1923 Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson born in Stoney Fork Township, near Deep Gap, North Carolina, on March 3, 1923 1947 Doc marries Rosa Lee Carlton 1949 Son Eddy Merle Watson born (Named after Eddy Arnold and Merle Travis) 1951 Daughter Nancy Ellen Watson born 1953 Doc gets a job playing electric lead guitar in Jack Williams’ country and western swing band 1960 Doc is "discovered" when Ralph Rinzler meets him while in North Carolina to record Clarence "Tom" Ashley 1961 Doc, Gaither Carlton, Tom Ashley, Fred Price, and Clint Howard travel to New York to perform a concert sponsored by Friends of Old Time Music 1962 Doc's first solo appearance, at Gerde's Folk City 1964 Merle starts learning the guitar; in June he plays backup guitar for Doc at the Berkeley Folk Festival 1973 Doc receives his first Grammy award. This is followed by five more Grammys over the years 1985 Merle Watson dies tragically in a tractor accident on the night of October 23rd 1988 Doc is awarded the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts 1988 The first Merlefest is held in remembrance of Merle Watson 1997 Doc receives the the National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton 2004 Doc is awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences at their 2004 Grammy Awards show 2012 Doc passes away on May 29 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC following abdominal surgery. Doc's wife Rosa Lee passes away six months later on November 22. early musical influences:

The Carter Family “When the Roses Bloom in Dixieland” (1929 - 30)

Jimmie Rodgers “Hobo Bill’s Last Ride” (1929)

Delmore Brothers “Nashville Blues” (1936)

Merle Travis “Nine Pound Hammer” (1947)