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This will take you a long ways around Lukey McCoy’s barn, but will give you a mini-taste of Doc Watson’s type of music:

Doc Watson collaborated with guitar-picking legend Merle Travis in the later years of their careers. Travis died in 1983, so Doc Watson has survived a long time since then.

For a quick window into their relationship and music, refer to an album produced by NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND in the 1970s, titled “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” The Dirt Band members were excellent musicians, and in addition to Rock ‘n Roll music, enjoyed, performed and were very good at Bluegrass. Their “Stars and Stripes Forever” album, which I once owned on 8-Track tape showcased the spectrum of their talents, from folk to rock to bluegrass, with several very humorous bits thrown in.

The multi-LP-disc “Circle” album included appearances by many Country & Bluegrass legends. “Mother” Maybelle Carter, Johnny Cash’s mother-in-law participated in a number or two and played her Hammer Dulcimer. One of the great Country fiddlers who never had much name recognition, Vassar Clements, was a mainstay on that album, as were Merle Travis and Doc Watson. Doc Watson held Merle Travis in such high regard that he named his son Merle after Travis. One standout number on the “Circle” album was when Doc and Merle joined in on a track of the C & W oldie, “DOWN YONDER.” According to narration on the album by either Doc or Merle, the song “Down Yonder” was originally recorded by a fun-sounding group by the name of “Gitt Tanner and the Skillet Lickers.”