It’s a sad time as I start to write, having just read the news that one of my all-time guitar heroes, Doc Watson, has died. Like many of my generation, I first heard Doc on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s album, Will the Circle Be Unbroken. Hearing Tennessee Stud and the first meeting with Merle Travis caught on tape, I was hooked. I couldn’t get enough and bought every album of his that I could.
Like many of my generation, Doc influenced my playing. When Doc played thumbstyle, he did it like I do, with the thumb and index finger. While I was in Mountain View for the thumbpicking weekend, I picked with some folks down on the town square. One gentleman watched me for a little while, and then he held up his thumb and index finger in an L-shape and said, “You’ve paid a lot of attention to Doc Watson, haven’t you.”
Yes, I have, and now I bid a fond farewell. Rest in peace, Mr. Watson, and thank you.
Here’s Doc Watson playing I Am a Pilgrim for his induction into the North Carolina Musician’s Hall of Fame.
