Merlefest Reflections
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MerleFest 2012 p. 20 Watson, and suggested asking Doc to play a “one-time, one- night, one-man show” to raise funds for the garden for the blind. In October 1987 Ala Sue, Bill and “B” met with Doc who generously agreed to do the concert in the John A. Walker Community Center (now referred to as the Walker Center) and had a November date available for the event. “B” admits freely to his naivety when he told Doc, “Great!” At this meeting Doc asked that the garden for the blind be Mark O’Connor, Sam Bush, John Cowan, Tony Rice, Béla Fleck & Jerry Douglas perform in 1988. named in honor of his late son Merle, and so it became the David Holt playing rhythm on impact of more than $10 create a variety of landscapes Eddy Merle Watson Garden a paper bag; John Hartford tap million to the region? for them to study. He devel- for the Senses. dancing on his amplified step-a- oped “The Garden Master tune; Chet Atkins explaining his MerleFest is the result of a Plan,” which included a Back at the college, Bud picking technique; Tony Rice and serendipitous combination of walking trail and a wildflower Mayes, manager of the Walker Peter Rowan jamming with Sam individuals with vision, talent walk, a Japanese garden, an Center, and President David Bush, Béla Fleck, John Cowan and perseverance. First among evergreen garden and a garden Daniel informed “B” that and Jerry Douglas; all the artists them is Frederick William for the blind, which would a concert in November was singing “Tribute to Merle” with Townes IV, nicknamed “B.” emphasize aromatic plants and totally unrealistic. Other con- Doc on harmonica—Music, In the ‘70s and ‘80s, “B” was feature Braille identification certs at the venue were planned Moments and Memories of a Wilkes Community College signs. The college budget was a year ahead and did not fill the first Eddy Merle Watson (WCC) horticulture instruc- tight, so “B” took full advan- the 1,100 seats. Bill and “B” Memorial Festival. tor with a grand vision to tage of a chance to present his had to meet with Doc again develop the grounds of the fundraising plan at a WCC to tell him that the November two-year public institution. trustees’ meeting. “B”’s talk concert could not happen. A 1988 The campus was a blank slate resulted in enthusiasm, pub- few days later Doc called to of acres of lawn and a few licity, several donations and the say that his daughter, Nancy, It began in 1988 as a one-time trees, so “B” wanted to develop creation of the WCC Gardens and his wife, RosaLee, came Wilkes Community College theme gardens to enhance the Board. A member of the board, up with the idea of Doc and Endowment Corporation education of his students with Ala Sue Wyke, knew Bill some of his and Merle’s musi- event to raise funds for a hands-on planting that would Young, a close friend of Doc cian friends playing a festi- campus garden for a rural val at the end of April 1988. North Carolina community While touring, Doc would college. A fine group of musi- call Bill Young and tell him cians donated their talents to about various artists, includ- memorialize a fallen friend and ing Chet Atkins, Earl Scruggs, support his musician father. Grandpa Jones, Mac Wiseman By 2011 the festival attracted and Sam Bush, who had com- nearly 80,000 participants over mitted to playing in memory four days to hear 90 musical of Merle for free. Bill wrote acts on 14 stages. How did these names down on a napkin MerleFest begin and how did it and handed them to “B.” “B,” evolve into the greatest annual a novice at festival planning, celebration of “traditional plus” was starting to feel a little music in the world and a fun- overwhelmed. Bill suggested draiser that has an economic another meeting with Doc and Festival goers listen to music at the first festival. RosaLee to work out details. MerleFest 2012 p. 21 At this meeting, since so many to get this monument in place. phone numbers for a few artists business. Sure enough, when artists wanted to play, it was From that point forward, Jim and, luckily, agent Keith Case. “B” called, Cliff said he would decided to make the one-night has been involved in promot- “B” called Keith and left mes- do anything for Doc. When concert into a two-day festival ing the festival. He has also sages but received no reply. Cliff visited the campus, “B” and to name it the Eddy Merle become a valued and trusted “B” was persistent and even- told him that the house was Watson Memorial Festival. personal friend to Doc. tually caught up with Keith sold out. Cliff suggested that With Bud Mayes’ blessing, the who said, “I heard Doc was they have the festival outside event was put on the calendar RosaLee suggested having a going to have a little festival to accommodate more folks to for Saturday and Sunday, April workshop as well where artists for Merle. I book a lot of these which “B” replied, “What do 30 and May 1, with all pro- could talk about their instru- people, and I’m not sure they you mean, have it outside??!!” ceeds going to the Eddy Merle ments and share ideas about have that date open.” – “B”’s Watson Garden for the Senses. their musical styles. This added nightmare! But the nightmare Cliff said, “Well, let’s look a second venue to the festival; quickly faded as Keith became around the campus.” They As Doc promoted this event the workshop would be held a valued colleague in the artist came to the area in front of during his concert tour, one in the Pit, now known as the booking process. In the mean- what is now the Watson Stage, gentleman heard about it and Mayes Pit-Cohn Auditorium. time, Doc was talking up the and Cliff said, “You could have wanted to become personally At this point “B” admitted that festival at his concerts, so the it in that field, have it inside involved in helping to make he was not musically inclined Walker Center box office was and outside.” it happen. Jim Rouse gave his and asked Doc, “What is a getting many calls from all name to Doc on a slip of paper, festival?” and “What kind of over the country for tickets, When “B” proposed the which Doc put in his pocket. music do you play?” Needless and the house sold out. inside/outside idea to Bud and As RosaLee was doing laundry to say, “B” was on a steep President Daniel, he recalls one day, she came upon this learning curve. Now that they had artists, “B” them saying, “Are you crazy? slip of paper and called “B” to asked Bud Mayes about the You have sold out the Walker recommend that he give Jim a One night “B” woke up in a sound system. Bud told him Center. You need to cut and call to see how he could help. bit of a panic as he realized he that the Walker Center did not run.” “B” persisted and with When “B” called Jim, Jim could not be sure who would have a sound system, and it was the backing of Bill and Doc, asked, “What is it that I can actually show up to perform. too late to rent one. Back to he went back to Bud and do to help you?” “B” explained He had yet to talk to any Doc, who said his friend Cliff President Daniel, who even- that he really needed a monu- artists or plan who would Miller, who used to play with tually conceded that it was his ment to place at the Garden for play when. So, he and Bill him and Merle, would take show and okayed the outside the Senses recognizing that it went back up the mountain to care of the sound. Cliff had venue idea. was established in memory of see Doc to work out some of played with Doc and Merle Merle. Jim gladly made plans these “details.” Doc gave them and was in the sound system So at this point, the event had evolved from a one-man, one- night show to a three-venue, multiple-artist, two-day fes- tival, which led to another problem—how to schedule all of the artists who were going to show up for the festival. Almost none of them were in band configurations. Doc had said that his old friend Ralph Rinzler would help with the schedule. Ralph was a success- ful folk musician and music producer who had “discov- ered” Doc by getting him to the Newport Folk Festival in the ‘60s. At this time he was the curator of the Smithsonian Folkways Museum and hap- pened to be working in France, The 1988 audience awaits anxiously in front of the stage. Continued On Page 22 MerleFest 2012 p. 22 Continued From Page 21 which is why he did not imme- diately return “B”’s calls. Finally, the weekend before the festival “B” got a call at home from Ralph, who said, “I know Doc wants me to speak or do something at a memorial for Merle. Do you know anything about it?” John Hartford tips his hat Bill Mathis & Doc Watson sing “A Song for Merle” “B” responded, “Doc told me that you would schedule the “B” said, “Somewhere out in the Walker Center introduc- set outside.