The fact that they put Jack White at 17 on the top 100 guitar players of all time and didn't even put this guy on the list shows you that Rolling Stone has either, A, no idea what they are doing, or B, care more about guessing what there audience likes than actually acknowledge the talent of real musicians. Frank Zappa and Mark Knopfler is are two other great examples of drastically under rating fantastic guitar players to please the reading audience.
I have worked for two years in USA, and I had the unique chance to attend a Doc Watson concert in a small church in Berkeley, Ca where I lived (in 89, before the quake!). This was one of the greatest concert I went ! I love deep river blues. I still blow the them drivin' to work here in France. Thanks for the vid !
Singing on the beat and picking across the beat: you don't really appreciate just how hard that is to get right until you sit down and try it yourself. Country blues is one of the most unforgiving styles to learn, but also one of the most rewarding.
Most that knew Doc,or know Docs abilities often say he is genius...I was friends with Merles boy Richard,who was also exceptional when it came to music,naturally...But an example of what Doc means to folks here in the Gap...well,one day I take off up the Cat(Wildcat rd),to the place at the end of the road,where folks take trash,and recycling...I pull in, in my old bumpside 3/4 ton...Elvis,his ears dragging the pavement,his tongue beating his head in...he had been blowing the leaves off the trees on the ride up...I get out and see Doc putting some milk jugs in the container,as I approach with my various recycling,Doc turns to me and says,"Boy,that Bluetick shore has a pretty voice"...Doc had never met my Elvis...Doc cannot see...with his eyes at least....I was too floored to ask him how in the world he knew Elvis was a Bluetick...I've been around coondogs most of my life and I can tell my dogs from others,but only guess at their breed...Doc knew,without a doubt....So when I see a video,or when I saw him pick live,and he does something extraordinary...I reckon folks got used to him being so common,nobody was shocked when he displayed the humble genius he was....I'm happy to see,those traits shared with the rest of the world...we're proud of Doc here in Deep Gap.
I sat right at his feet once. We applauded a song and he said: "I love ya'll!" I had my chance. I piped up: "We love you too, Doc!", and was rewarded with a smile. But I saw him lose his temper a little another time when folks were talking down front. He had just played the best Working Man Blues I ever heard, at least for me, including the original Merle's version, and I wanted to hear every sound he made. He left that gig in a black Rolls. You came a long way, Doc.
thank you, wings of pegasus, for showing me the light. lol. I always wrote off country. but seeing his enthusiasm for talent for all genres really opened my ears. :)
Been to two Doc Watson live performances, and they were among the musical highlights of my life. Sadly, never got to see him perform with Merle, but have many albums of them together... tragic, no father should lose a son that way.
Doc is a giant of American music, and a sure-enough genius in the old-time traditional style.
Let it rain, let it pour, let it rain a whole lot more
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Let the rain drive right on, let the waves sweep along
'Cause I got them deep river blues
My old gal's a good old pal, and she looks like a water fowl
When I get them deep river blues
Ain't no one to cry for me, and the fish all go out on a spree
When I get them deep river blues
Give me back my old boat, I'm gonna sail if she'll float
'Cause I got them deep river blues
I'm goin' back to Muscle Shoals, times are better there I'm told
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Let it rain, let it pour, let it rain a whole lot more
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Let the rain drive right on, let the waves sweep along
'Cause I got them deep river blues
If my boat sinks with me, I'll go down, don't you see
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Now I'm gonna say goodbye, and if I sink, just let me die
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Let it rain, let it pour, let it rain a whole lot more
'Cause I got them deep river blues
Let the rain drive right on, let the waves sweep along
'Cause I got them deep river blues
A guitar picker myself, I took a rocker friend who played drums, to see Doc in the mid eighties at the perot theatre in Texarkana, Tx. He was quite apprehensive and tried hard not to enjoy the show at first, but by the time Doc finished up my friend was cheering louder than anyone in the place. I realized then and there, that talent/ability transcends preferred musical style. What a wonderful lesson. Thanks Doc. R.I.P.
