Doc Watson - (American Music: New Roots) by Eddie Huffman (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Arthel 'Doc' Watson (1923-2012) is arguably one of the most influential musicians Appalachia has ever produced. A musician's musician, Doc grew up on a subsistence farm in the North Carolina mountains during the Depression, soaking up traditional music and learning to play guitar even though he was blind. Rising to fame in the 1960s as part of the burgeoning folk revival scene, Doc became the face of traditional music for many listeners, racking up multiple Grammys and releasing dozens of albums over the course of his long career. Eddie Huffman tells the story of Doc's life and legacy, drawing on extensive interviews and hundreds of hours of archival research. In making the most comprehensive biography of Watson ever, Huffman gives us an affecting and informative portrait of the man they called Doc. Full of fascinating stories--from Doc's first banjo made from his grandmother's cat to the founding of MerleFest--this promises to be the definitive biography of the man and how he came to be synonymous with roots music in America and shows how his influence is still felt in music today"--

Book Synopsis

Arthel "Doc" Watson (1923-2012) is arguably one of the most influential musicians Appalachia has ever produced. A musician's musician, Doc grew up on a subsistence farm in the North Carolina mountains during the Depression, soaking up traditional music and learning to play guitar even though he was blind. Rising to fame in the 1960s as part of the burgeoning folk revival scene, Doc became the face of traditional music for many listeners, racking up multiple Grammys and releasing dozens of albums over the course of his long career. Eddie Huffman tells the story of Doc's life and legacy, drawing on extensive interviews and hundreds of hours of archival research. In making the most comprehensive biography of Watson ever, Huffman gives us an affecting and informative portrait of the man they called Doc.

Full of fascinating stories--from Doc's first banjo made from his grandmother's cat to the founding of MerleFest--this promises to be the definitive biography of the man and how he came to be synonymous with roots music in America and shows how his influence is still felt in music today.

Review Quotes

"Huffman's work is not academic at all. It's a solid piece of journalism, well-researched with straight-forward writing."--Arts Fuse

"An illuminating new biography . . . Huffman offers a straight ahead, chronological, account of Watson's life and music. . . . Huffman's book also serves as a useful introduction to Doc Watson, and it will encourage long-time fans to listen yet once again to Doc's records."--No Depression

"Huffman has carefully researched Watson's life and music . . . It's hard to imagine why any Doc Watson fan wouldn't want this one in their collection."--Bluegrass Today

"A vivd portrait . . . The combination of meticulous research and fluent writing makes this title important for anyone interested in Doc Watson or the evolution of old-time, traditional, and folk music over the past 90 years."--Library Journal