Remembering Rosalee Watson
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38 MerleFest 2014 MerleFest 2014 39 Continued from Page 38 REMEMBERING When Doc Watson’s invitations Deep Gap; three great-grand- Michael Channing Norris II of Shipley and husband Howard of to musicians for the first event daughters, Candis Amber Deep Gap; two great-great- Lenoir and Marlene Marley and drew a strong response, it was Watson of Boone, Chelsea grandsons, Tanten Webb of husband Charles of Ferguson; RosaLee who suggested that it Michelle Norris of Blowing Rock Boone and Brennon Kilgore and one brother, Jay Carlton ROSALEE become an annual festival. and Sarah Elizabeth Norris of of Blowing Rock; three sisters, and wife Carrolyn of Boomer. Deep Gap; one great-grandson, Irene Lewis of Boone, Pearlee This world bid farewell to Family,” a 1963 Smithsonian “A lot of times when we went RosaLee Carlton Watson Folkways recording showcas- to their home to discuss the on Thanksgiving morning, ing the traditional mountain festival, RosaLee would have November 22, 2012. She joined style that became synonymous suggestions for program- her husband of 65 years, Arthel with the Watson family. On the ming ... She and Doc worked “Doc” Watson, who died on May album, Doc and RosaLee sang together as a team and would 29, 2012, and their son Eddy a duet of their mountain ballad discuss things,” said Hagaman, Merle Watson, who was killed “Your Lone Journey.” a Watauga County native. in 1985 in a tractor accident. Doc told how RosaLee came up “She was a very fine lady. We RosaLee was born February 5, with “Your Lone Journey.” will miss her but she and Doc 1931, in Watauga County, N.C., a are together again and that’s the daughter of the late Gaither and “RosaLee was sweeping the way it ought to be.” Lucy Robbins Carlton. house one Sunday morning when Merle was four and our RosaLee is buried beside Doc in Although RosaLee’s husband, daughter, Nancy, was two, and the Doc & Merle Watson Family Doc, was an internationally- all at once she was humming Cemetery in Deep Gap, N.C. celebrated musician, RosaLee something and she’d stop,” Doc came from a musical family and Watson said. “I said, ‘What are She is survived by one daugh- had her own musical gifts to you doing, honey?’ She said, ‘I’m ter, Nancy Ellen Watson of Deep offer, including singing, playing a writin’ a song.’ I said, ‘Well, RosaLee Watson Gap; one granddaughter, Karen the guitar and songwriting. when you hum it next time, I’m Watson Norris of Deep Gap; going to see if I can figure out in memory of Doc and RosaLee a child as the melody always one grandson, Richard Eddy She performed with Doc a guitar arrangement that goes Watson’s son, the late Eddy sounded to me like a lullaby Watson and wife Annette of Doc and RosaLee Watson Watson during early stages of with it.’” Merle. RosaLee taught Merle even though the words are his career, and she and Merle his first guitar chords. pretty melancholy. Once, took turns driving to Doc’s per- Doc Watson’s long-time musical RosaLee heard me sing this formances around the country. collaborator David Holt said, John Cowan, who was friends years ago and from that day By the late 1960s, Merle joined “RosaLee Watson was always with Merle and who performs forward, she would always ask n t th e Wa Ask about our Doc full-time on the road and sweet and gentle, and yet she regularly at MerleFest, paid me to sing it for her, which of stage. The father-son team won was the backbone of the family. tribute to RosaLee on the after- course, I gladly did. hearts throughout the country. The early days of Doc’s career noon of her death. PATRON were rough and yet she was “RosaLee, as we know, had a Doc and RosaLee co-wrote and always supportive. RosaLee “This is a day to give thanks to lot of tragedy in her life (surely, Ultimate recorded “Your Lone Journey,” was a loving mother to Merle Doc Watson, his lovely bride, as we all do). Knowing this, the PACKAGES! one of the most cherished songs and Nancy and a hard worker, RosaLee, and their wonder- thing I always remember is that MerleFest in roots music, which has been raising a large garden every year ful son, Merle, as they are all her eyes literally had a spark in recorded by John Hartford, to keep food on the table. Later dancin’ with the angels now,” them like a lighthouse. God Experience? Platinum: Emmylou Harris, and Robert on, she helped Doc manage the Cowan said. “Thank you for knows how many of us, who DAILY BACKSTAGE ACCESS Plant and Alison Krauss on the business side of his growing sharing your souls with us and in a moment or a season, were Grammy Award-winning album career. RosaLee was a wonder- shining your light onto us and guided back to shore by the to the WATSON STAGE! “Raising Sand.” ful mountain singer who only leading us out of our seeming Watson Family,” said Cowan. Reserved Seats wrote one song, and yet it is one perpetual darkness.” For patron package details, Backstage Meals RosaLee’s dad was the great of the great songs of all time, MerleFest Director Ted please contact: Midnight Jam Tickets GOLD PASSES Tabitha Hudler • 336-838-6185 include the same fiddler and banjo player Gaither ‘Your Lone Journey.’ It will be Cowan continued, “I learned Hagaman says RosaLee was Parking Passes benefits with Carlton, born in Wilkes County, sung long into the future.” ‘Rough and Rocky Road’ ini- closely involved with MerleFest [email protected] & much, much more! N.C. Carlton, Doc and RosaLee tially from Emmylou Harris’ from the start. the exception of first became known to the MerleFest is held every spring beautiful rendering of it. I reserved seats. world on “Doc Watson and His at Wilkes Community College always imagined singing it to Continued on Page 39 38 MerleFest 2014 MerleFest 2014 39 Continued from Page 38 REMEMBERING When Doc Watson’s invitations Deep Gap; three great-grand- Michael Channing Norris II of Shipley and husband Howard of to musicians for the first event daughters, Candis Amber Deep Gap; two great-great- Lenoir and Marlene Marley and drew a strong response, it was Watson of Boone, Chelsea grandsons, Tanten Webb of husband Charles of Ferguson; RosaLee who suggested that it Michelle Norris of Blowing Rock Boone and Brennon Kilgore and one brother, Jay Carlton ROSALEE become an annual festival. and Sarah Elizabeth Norris of of Blowing Rock; three sisters, and wife Carrolyn of Boomer. Deep Gap; one great-grandson, Irene Lewis of Boone, Pearlee This world bid farewell to Family,” a 1963 Smithsonian “A lot of times when we went RosaLee Carlton Watson Folkways recording showcas- to their home to discuss the on Thanksgiving morning, ing the traditional mountain festival, RosaLee would have November 22, 2012. She joined style that became synonymous suggestions for program- her husband of 65 years, Arthel with the Watson family. On the ming ... She and Doc worked “Doc” Watson, who died on May album, Doc and RosaLee sang together as a team and would 29, 2012, and their son Eddy a duet of their mountain ballad discuss things,” said Hagaman, Merle Watson, who was killed “Your Lone Journey.” a Watauga County native. in 1985 in a tractor accident. Doc told how RosaLee came up “She was a very fine lady. We RosaLee was born February 5, with “Your Lone Journey.” will miss her but she and Doc 1931, in Watauga County, N.C., a are together again and that’s the daughter of the late Gaither and “RosaLee was sweeping the way it ought to be.” Lucy Robbins Carlton. house one Sunday morning when Merle was four and our RosaLee is buried beside Doc in Although RosaLee’s husband, daughter, Nancy, was two, and the Doc & Merle Watson Family Doc, was an internationally- all at once she was humming Cemetery in Deep Gap, N.C. celebrated musician, RosaLee something and she’d stop,” Doc came from a musical family and Watson said. “I said, ‘What are She is survived by one daugh- had her own musical gifts to you doing, honey?’ She said, ‘I’m ter, Nancy Ellen Watson of Deep offer, including singing, playing a writin’ a song.’ I said, ‘Well, RosaLee Watson Gap; one granddaughter, Karen the guitar and songwriting. when you hum it next time, I’m Watson Norris of Deep Gap; going to see if I can figure out in memory of Doc and RosaLee a child as the melody always one grandson, Richard Eddy She performed with Doc a guitar arrangement that goes Watson’s son, the late Eddy sounded to me like a lullaby Watson and wife Annette of Doc and RosaLee Watson Watson during early stages of with it.’” Merle. RosaLee taught Merle even though the words are his career, and she and Merle his first guitar chords. pretty melancholy. Once, took turns driving to Doc’s per- Doc Watson’s long-time musical RosaLee heard me sing this formances around the country. collaborator David Holt said, John Cowan, who was friends years ago and from that day By the late 1960s, Merle joined “RosaLee Watson was always with Merle and who performs forward, she would always ask n t th e Wa Ask about our Doc full-time on the road and sweet and gentle, and yet she regularly at MerleFest, paid me to sing it for her, which of stage.