FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge presents
Blue Ridge Jamboree: Doc at 100
March 25, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. – VIP Dinner
March 25, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. – Concert
Arthel “Doc” Watson was one of the most influential and beloved music artists of the 20th century. Born in 1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina, Doc overcame his loss of sight as an infant to become a legendary performer of numerous music forms on a wide variety of instruments including guitar, banjo, mandolin, and harmonica.
Doc combined his warm baritone voice with virtuoso talents on the guitar and other instruments to put his unique stamp on ancient ballads, modern American show tunes, gospel, blues, and a remarkable range of popular and traditional music. His virtuosity on guitar was revealed through his pioneering work demonstrating that the acoustic guitar’s capabilities extended well beyond simply being a background rhythm instrument, to include blazing instrumental lead work, especially with traditional fiddle tunes.
DOC AT 100 is a fundraiser concert for FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge that celebrates the life and legacy of Doc Watson by those who performed with Doc, were profoundly influenced by his music, and called him a friend. This includes T. Michael Coleman and Jack Lawrence, who performed, recorded, and toured with Doc longer than any other musicians he worked with. Joining T. Michael and Jack, are fellow guitarists Wayne Henderson and Jack Hinshelwood, who were both heavily impacted by Doc’s music through his many recordings and performances, and Wayne counted Doc as a close friend, especially in Doc’s later years when he enjoyed visiting Wayne in his guitar making shop in Rugby, Virginia.
Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies at East Tennessee State University, is the author of “Doc’s World: Traditional Plus,” the book that accompanies the 4 CD compilation of recordings from Doc’s career released in 2022 by Craft Records called “Doc Watson, Life’s Work: A Retrospective.”
DOC AT 100 begins with a pre-concert talk led by host Ted Olson on the legacy of Doc Watson followed by stories shared by the artists who knew Doc as a friend and fellow performer. The audience will also be encouraged to share their stories of Doc and the impact he had on them.
The VIP ticket includes premium seating to the concert and the VIP Dinner.
