Posted on 05/24/2012 5:34:35 PM PDT by don-o
We have learned that legendary guitarist and folk singer Doc Watson is hospitalized in Winston-Salem, NC. He is 89 years old.
According to two close friends of Watson’s, Doc fell on Monday and was taken to a regional hospital near his home. After taking a turn for the worse, he was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem where he is being treated for what may be a case of pneumonia. Though unconfirmed at this point, there is the possibility that Doc is also suffering from kidney failure.
We will update as we are able to obtain further details.
Oh no! Not Doc!
Prayers for a brilliant artist.
Oh my! I learned so much from him! When I was 13 or 14, I got a record of his performance at some festival out East. It had “Doc’s Guitar/Ticklin’ The Strings” on it. I memorized every note, but couldn’t play it. The syncopation was beyond me. I drove my family crazy, listening to it at 16 rpm. I listened to it one night before going to bed, and when I woke up the next morning, I could play it! Doc is a serious hero of mine. So too was Earl Scruggs. Prayers up for a national treasure, Doc Watson!
Prayers for Doc.
He is a National Treasure.
Ping
And a double down on prayer for Doc.
FMCDH(BITS)
He has had such a profound influence on my guitar style.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUQmNGLvL3U
We saw Doc and his boy play on San Juan Island, WA back in the early ‘80’s. They were great.
I don't know his stuff. However, my first lessons were bluegrass and I've loved it since.
“that’s some story, Dr. Bogus.”
Young, very active brain!
I never met Doc, never talked to him, but he was still my good friend and mentor. I was a Rockabilly punk, then a Zappa guy, but I always fingerpicked. I even play my Gatton stuff fingerpicking. That’s Doc’s influence. When I took up pedal steel in ‘72, I never even had to think about my right hand! Palm blocking? Pick blocking? Grips? Never even had to think about them, thanks to Doc! A wonderful, wonderful man! Please say a prayer for him!
I WORE OUT several records of Doc and Merle learning to fingerpick the Travis style. A hero of mine, too. Godspeed!
Hope he pulls through.
“learning to fingerpick the Travis style.”
Well,,,, one of the interesting things about Travis and Doc,,,, Merle played with his thumb and one finger,,,, Doc added a second finger to the mix. I do play some Travis tunes, but my whole style is based on Doc;s picking. I’ll play Gatton’s “Elmira Street Boogie” and people will ask me why i’m fingerpicking it. I tell them, “It’s all Doc Watson.”
It’s hard to explain to my friends. I fingerpick everything,,, Gatton,,, Hellecasters, my own stuff. They can’t see the relationship to Doc;s playing. Yeah, I’ve done a lot of extrapolation,,,, but it’s all Doc!
I saw Doc & Merle a couple of times in Marianna, Fl in the early 80’s at Danny Lipford’s (Weather Channel) farm.
Great times and I never got the fingerstyle outta me.
Yes. It was that old Vanguard double album that got me hooked. Windy and Warm, and Deep River Blues. Learned them on an LP player at 33rpm and 16.5 rpm. By the time I had it figured out, the records were unusable. Had to buy new ones..
When the whistle blows, I got to go--
Lordy, Lordy---
Guess I'm never gonna lose
The freight train blues.
Best wishes for a full recovery!
Update:
Stay with us Doc....
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