The Essential Doc Watson
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923, Deep Gap, North Carolina – May 29,… Read Full Bio ↴Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson (March 3, 1923, Deep Gap, North Carolina – May 29, 2012, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) was a guitar player, banjo player, songwriter and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel music.

Doc played guitar in both flatpicking and fingerpicking style, but was best known for his flatpick work. His virtuosity combined with his authenticity as a mountain musician made him a highly influential figure during the folk music revival. He pioneered the fast and flashy bluegrass lead guitar style which has been adopted and extended by others such as Clarence White and Tony Rice. He was also an accomplished banjo player and in the past had accompanied himself on harmonica as well.

In 1986 he received the North Carolina Award and in 2000 he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor. In 1997, Doc received the National Medal of the Arts from President Clinton.

He was generally joined on stage by his grandson and Merle's son Richard as well as his musical partner of twenty years, Jack Lawrence.

He was host to the annual MerleFest music festival held every April at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. The festival features a vast array of acoustic style music focusing on the folk, bluegrass, blues and old time music genres. It's named in honor of Merle Watson and is one of the most popular acoustic music festivals in the world, drawing over 85,000 music fans each year.

In late May 2012, Watson was listed in critical condition but was responsive at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, after undergoing colon surgery. Watson had fallen early in the week. Watson did not break any bones, but an underlying condition prompted the surgery. Watson died on May 29, 2012 at the medical center at the age of 89.
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The Essential Doc Watson
Doc Watson Lyrics


Alberta Alberta let your hair hang low I saw her first on…
Blue Railroad Train Blue railroad train I'm goin' down the railroad track It mak…
Blueridge Mountain Blues I'm a gonna leave here Monday morning Oh, I'm a gonna…
Country Blues Come all you good time people While I've got money to…
Down In the Valley To Pray As I went down in the valley to pray Studyin' about…
Froggie Went A-Courtin' A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, M-hm, M-hm. A…
Going Down This Road Feeling Bad Oh, it's going down the road feeling bad Bad luck's all…
Groundhog Shoulder up your gun, and whistle up your dog, Shoulder up…
Handsome Molly Well, I wish I was in London, Or some other seaport…
I Was a Stranger I'm a stranger here, just blowed in your town Yes,…
Little Omie Wise Oh, LISTEN to my story, I'll tell you no lies, How…
Little Orphan Girl "No home, no home," said a little girl At the door…
Muskrat Muskrat, Muskrat, wha makes your head so slick? I've been a-…
My Rough and Rowdy Ways For years and years I've rambled I drank my wine and…
Rambling Hobo Just a mile west of the water tank On a cold…
Rising Sun Blues There is a house down in New Orleans They call the…
Shady Grove Shady Grove, my little love Shady Grove I say Shady Grove, m…
St. James Hospital Early one morning at the St. James Hospital Early one morni…
The Train That Carried My Girl From Town There goes the train that carried my girl from town If…
Tom Dooley Hang your head, Tom Dooley, Hang your head and cry; You kill…
Way Downtown Way downtown just foolin' around Took me to the jail It's oh…


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