Quotes by Doc Watson

About Doc Watson:

Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson was an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer of bluegrass, folk, country, blues, and gospel music. Watson won seven Grammy awards as well as a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Watson's flatpicking skills and knowledge of traditional American music are highly regarded. He performed with his son, guitarist Merle Watson, for over 15 years until Merle's death in 1985 in an accident on the family farm.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I'm like an old dog, I hate to be run off from home.

Doc Watson

Intimacy comes from being yourself on the stage and making the audience feel, without trying, that you're sittin' down there with 'em, playing, and that can happen in a big hall, if you have a good audience that want to listen.

Doc Watson

I love music and love a good audience and still have to make a living. Why would I quit?

Doc Watson

I'd think learning to play the guitar would be very confusing for sighted people.

Doc Watson

I just loved the guitar when it came along. I loved it. The banjo was something I really liked, but when the guitar came along, to me that was my first love in music.

Doc Watson

We have had to play some mighty tough audiences.

Doc Watson

The size of the halls doesn't matter to me too much.

Doc Watson

I feel about me like I'm one of the working people, just like you, and everybody else. I don't fit the part of a celebrity.

Doc Watson

My real interest in music was the old 78 records and the sound of the music. I loved it and began to realize that one of the main sounds on those old records I loved was the guitar.

Doc Watson

When Merle and I started out we called our music 'traditional plus,' meaning the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.

Doc Watson

Since the beginning, the people of the college and I have agreed that the music of MerleFest is 'traditional plus.'

Doc Watson

Author Bio

  • NameDoc Watson
  • DescriptionAmerican guitarist, songwriter and singer
  • AliasesArthel Lane Watson
  • BornMarch 3, 1923
  • DiedMay 29, 2012
  • CountryUnited States Of America
  • ProfessionGuitarist; Singer-songwriter; Street Artist; Banjoist; Musician
  • AwardsNational Medal Of Arts; Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award