Doc Watson: A Life in Music (American Music: New Roots)

Doc Watson: A Life in Music (American Music: New Roots)

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. “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 “Huffman’s work is not academic at all. It’s a solid piece of journalism, well-researched with straight-forward writing.”— Arts Fuse “Whether you are an expert in folk music or if you can’t tell a banjo from a mandolin, a new biography, Doc Watson: A Life in Music , by Eddie Huffman, will draw you in. Along the way you’ll discover not just Doc’s story, but the rich history of our state and the impact of its traditional music. . . . [A] moving biography.”— Lincoln Times “Detailed but very readable. . . . Despite the dramatic tragedies and triumphs of Doc Watson’s life, Huffman avoids sentimentality, judgments, or interpretation. But he leaves the reader with much to ponder.”— Times–Picayune “[An] illuminating new biography.”— No Depression “Huffman celebrates Doc Watson’s life while also conveying the truth. . . . Huffman’s ability to craft a narrative that humanizes its subject through unflinching truths is a triumph.”— North Carolina Historical Review “I've always thought of Doc as the patron saint of the mountains. His life, like his music, was clear as mountain water. Eddie Huffman has done a beautiful job of bringing this story to life. This book also serves as a reminder that Doc Watson not only was one of the greatest guitar players who ever walked the planet but also will undoubtedly be revered as an inspirational figure for the ages.”―Marty Stuart, award-winning country and bluegrass musician “Doc Watson stood as a vital bridge between the worlds of folk music and bluegrass. His songs and musical prowess showcased a broad spectrum of more than a century of American music. Huffman provides a comprehensive look at an American treasure whose legacy still shines in the fabric of our cultural landscape. Watson has influenced thousands of musicians, including me, by embracing the everlasting power of reinterpreting and arranging the folk-song tradition so that it can live on for the next generations to enjoy.”―Dom Flemons, musician, songwriter, and founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops “ Doc Watson is a long overdue biography, one that joyfully shares with audiences the life of the man behind the music. Eddie Huffman gives us an immediate, powerful, and entertaining book worthy of a finely produced biopic.”—Trevor McKenzie, musician and author of Otto Wood, the Bandit The story of a small-town man who changed music forever Eddie Huffman is a writer, reporter, and author of John Prine: In Spite of Himself . He lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.