Arthel Lane Watson was born on this day in 1923. Doc, as we all call him, was a master of the flat pick.
Benjy Eisen writing Doc’s 2012 obituary for Rolling Stone summarized Doc’s contributions. “Born in 1923 in Deep Gap, Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson influenced generations of country, folk and bluegrass artists with his flatpicking approach to the guitar. Watson went blind at age one following an eye infection and quickly grew immersed in music thanks to his parents, who performed in the local church choir and sang secular and religious songs. By the age of five, Watson was playing the banjo and harmonica, and by 1953 he was playing electric for a local country swing band. Watson’s solo career took off following a performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, as folk music was developing into a cultural phenomenon; he released his solo debut, Doc Watson and Family, that same year.”
From there he led a life of joy and sadness.
And, for the rest of us, oh my, such beauty…
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