Arthel Lane Watston, or “Doc” as he was known from childhood is an American musician, known for being one of the most influential Bluegrass artists of all time. Known for playing in both the styles of flatpicking and fingerpicking, Doc spanned the genres of bluegrass, country, folk and gospel music, becoming a pioneer of the fast and energetic guitar style, long since adopted by countless bluegrass trailblazers such as Tony Rice and Billy Strings.
Raised in the Appalachian Mountains, Doc was born on March 3rd, 1923 In Deep Gap North Carolina, about an hour away from Winston Salem
In 1988, Doc Founded the annual Merlefest music and arts festival in Wilkesboro in memory of his Son, Eddy Merle Watson, as a way to celebrate and support what he called “traditional plus” music, meaning the Traditional music of appalachian, plus “whatever other styles we were in the mood to play” as quoted by Doc. Merlefest is now one of the most widely attended annual festivals in the country, drawing over 85,000 people yearly.
Doc’s list of accolades and accomplishments merely begin with Merlefest, however, as he would go on to be a nine time grammy award winner, international Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor Inductee, and in 1997, he was given the National Medal of the Arts from President Bill Clinton.
Doc Watson’s influence spans all of North Carolina and beyond, but it was in Winston Salem at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Where he would take his Final Breaths. Doc passed away after undergoing Colon surgery at the age of 89 years old on May 29th 2012.
Few artists have been so ingrained in the history and backbone of North Carolina and southern Appalachian music as Doc Watston, and this week (March 1st- 5th 2023), Winston Salem is lucky to host 4 days worth of events honoring the music and memory of Doc.
On top of 2 two day festivals, held by Fiddlin Fish Brewery and the Ramkat music venue, there will be multiple live music performances, documentary screenings, and Grammy Winning Bluegrass artist, Billy Strings will make his Winston Salem Debut at the Lawrence Joel Memorial Coliseum, doing a two night tribute to Doc, along with special guests.
For tickets and more information, visit https://www.ljvm.com/events/
