Every note he played had a fullness to it. Clarence White, Tony Rice, countless incredible flat pickers from the last fifty years, Billy Strings-all were influenced by Doc in some way. He revolutionized lead acoustic guitar and influenced a succession of others who created their own styles on the foundation of what Doc built. He was one of the many guitar players and artists that were touched by Doc.
“Doc had so many important, iconic songs that he made classics, and ‘Shady Grove’ is probably the most covered. This one takes me to the porch of their home, where both of their musical families played and played.
“Another one is ‘Your Long Journey.’ This song by Doc’s wife, Rosa Lee, and sung with her is truly a sublime, spiritual experience. A scratchy, raw recording from 1941, the song offers an early glimpse of Watson’s burgeoning genius. The collection also includes the first song Watson ever recorded, a previously unreleased cover of Roy Acuff’s “The Precious Jewel,” which Garden & Gun is proud to premiere below. Highlights from the new collection include a handful of tracks from a scintillating 1970 performance at Cornell University, songs with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band-which brought Watson a new legion of fans-as well as multiple recordings with his son, Merle, and collaborations with Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Flatt & Scruggs, Chet Atkins, and Bill Monroe. A native of Deep Gap, North Carolina, who lost his vision as a toddler, Watson died in 2012 at 89. Life’s Work: A Retrospective includes 101 songs from Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson spanning seven decades. Though Doc Watson is rightfully known as one of the most influential guitar players in music history, a new comprehensive box set showcases the late North Carolina legend’s skill as a vocalist, too, revealing a multidimensional singer who could easily move from traditional ballads to folk, country, and blues.