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Post new topic Doc Watson, folk music legend, dies at 89
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Author Topic:  Doc Watson, folk music legend, dies at 89
Michael Strauss


From:
Delray Beach,Florida
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 4:17 pm    
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Just saw this on USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/obit/story/2012-05-29/doc-watson-dies/55271498/1?csp=breakingnews

Very sad news, RIP Doc
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 5:29 pm    
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Very sad news. Doc was my first guitar hero. He taught me my right hand. When I took up steel in 1970, I didn't even have to think about my right hand. Palm blocking? Pick blocking? A strong, firm technique? All from Doc. Say a prayer for his wonderful life, and his beautiful soul.
THANK YOU DOC!.
A huge loss for the American Musical Arts!
My, oh my! I'm bummed,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
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Mitch Adelman


From:
Pennsylvania, USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 5:35 pm    
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First Earl, now Doc. Two giants.Huge losses to acoustic music, shoulders pickers all stand on. RIP, Doc.You taught me how to pick.Thank you.
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Pete Burak

 

From:
Portland, OR USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 5:56 pm    
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Thank You, Doc!
I saw you play alot of times over the years, and learned a ton of cool Flat-Pickin' songs from you.
You were The Man!
RIP

My Tribute to Doc:
http://picosong.com/w425/


Last edited by Pete Burak on 31 May 2012 10:09 am; edited 1 time in total
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Dave Harmonson


From:
Seattle, Wa
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 6:00 pm    
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It's been a rough stretch here. Doc was my first guitar hero and though younger players have taken flat picking to a whole new level, nobody has ever sounded like Doc. Happy I got to see him a number of times and was mesmerized by his playing.
RIP Doc. Bet he's already got a jam going with Vassar and Earl
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Adair Torres


From:
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 6:17 pm    
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Thank You Doc Watson....we'll miss you.........


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Last edited by Adair Torres on 31 May 2012 4:24 am; edited 1 time in total
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Michael Breid

 

From:
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 6:31 pm    
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Doc is gone, which is part of life, but I don't have to like it. He was a classic, and I'll miss him. He showed us that you don't have to plug in the guitar to make it sound great. What a great, rewarding career. RIP Doc. Your work on earth is done.
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Bill Dobkins


From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 7:38 pm    
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RIP Mr Watson.
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 7:41 pm    
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Another indescribable loss, they just keep coming. Doc Watson was my compass for acoustic flatpicking from the minute I picked a flattop guitar a very long time ago. I agree with Dave that, even with all the great flatpickers there are and have been, Doc had his own transcendent vibe. RIP, Doc.
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 8:57 pm    
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I was able to see Doc play several times, and some of those were at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in San Francisco.

I recall several years ago catching a portion of Doc's set, then hustling over to another stage to catch the beginning of Buddy Miller (and band).

Buddy took the stage and while checking his tuning leaned into the microphone and said: "You know, it's kind've against my religion to be playing at the same time as Doc Waston, but I guess we'll muddle through..."

The man seemed to have that effect on even the greatest of his fellow musicians.

Rest in peace Doc Watson.
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Douglas Schuch


From:
Valencia, Philippines
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 9:20 pm    
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I am sure there is one heck of a hoedown in heaven tonight. Doc was...no, make that IS... my greatest music hero. I discovered his music as a teen, and became a huge fan. I remember at 18 helping some friends put on Doc Watson concert in Raleigh, my home town, that, despite not even breaking even, was a fabulous performance (we had the bad luck of picking a night when some new guy was putting on a concert in Durham, NC, just 15 miles away. Then, a month or so before the concert, this upstart had the fortune to be on the covers of both Time and Newsweek at the same time: Bruce Springsteen).

Living in Boone and Deep Gap during my college years, I got to know many of the people who played with Doc at different times. Anyone who takes a flat pick to an acoustic guitar is influenced by Doc, whether he knows it or not.

He and his playing will be sorely missed.

Doug
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Per Berner


From:
Skovde, Sweden
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 9:34 pm    
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Back when I was 12 and had just got my first steel string guitar, I bought the iconic triple album "Will the circle be unbroken". Doc's rendition of Black Mountain Rag (with Vassar Clements on fiddle) just blew my socks off. Truly inspiring work. RIP.
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Ben Elder

 

From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
Post  Posted 29 May 2012 9:47 pm    
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Declan Byrne

 

From:
Southern Ireland
Post  Posted 31 May 2012 1:19 am    
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RIP Mr Watson Sad
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Tony Davis


From:
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Post  Posted 31 May 2012 4:06 am    
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Doc Watson waas a Huge influence on my music style,,
My friend Jackie was female singer in his band
R.I.P. Doc.
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Ned McIntosh


From:
New South Wales, Australia
Post  Posted 31 May 2012 2:00 pm    
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I knew he was one of the greatest, even before I bought the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's iconic LP "Will The Circle Be Unbroken". Doc's version of Black Mountain Rag is my favourite piece of acoustic flat-picking, to this day.

He was also an accomplished banjo-player, and an expert at Travis-picking, which he did with the thumb and a single finger rather than thumb and two. He had a fine voice too, a rich mountain baritone. One of the things that made him so unique was his ability to play fiddle tunes on the guitar, turning them into classics for the repertoire of aspiring bluegrass and folk pickers.

An American national living treasure has passed into legend. RIP Doc, and thanks for your amazing music, your unquenchable spirit and your deep humanity.
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Steve Atwood

 

From:
Massachusetts, USA
Post  Posted 31 May 2012 4:24 pm    
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Great interview and playing on NPR:

http://www.npr.org/2012/05/30/153704132/fresh-air-remembers-traditional-music-legend-doc-watson
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Alan Brookes


From:
Brummy living in Southern California
Post  Posted 9 Jun 2012 3:56 pm    
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He was one of a kind. He started out as a lead guitarist playing rock and roll, and it wouldn't be unusual for him, in the middle of a folk concert, to slip in Shake, Rattle & Roll. Quite an individualist, and a lot of talent. Crying or Very sad
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