North Carolina living musical legend Doc Watson transported a sold-out crowd from the cavernous acoustics of Hill Hall Auditorium to a care-free, back-porch, folk-music jam Thursday night.
For almost four decades, Watson has been one of the leading voices in folk, old-time and bluegrass music. His high-speed style of guitar playing, influenced by fiddle technique, has set a new standard for players across genres.
With a rich baritone voice, he lent an instant familiarity to his music. Even at Watson’s age of 82, his voice is smooth and tinged with the blues, flawlessly moving from ballad to folk standard to rolling train song.
William Ferris, adjunct professor in the curriculum in folklore and senior associate director for the Center for the Study of the American South, said Watson’s unique style has garnered him the label of most important living folk legend in the bluegrass tradition.
“For decades, he’s been recognized as the fastest guitar player,” Ferris said. “His style of guitar playing and singing has influenced and inspired younger generations of musicians.”
Raised in Deep Gap, Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson has won praise for his music’s down-home feel and his distinctive guitar style. His honors include the National Medal of Arts from Bill Clinton in 1997, six Grammy Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award, received at the 2004 Grammys.
Watson’s years of experience were evident in his performance, as he exuded a complete comfort with the audience and his playing.
He provided, often at one time, a steady walking bass line, guitar accompaniment and sweetly melodic vocals. The lightning-fast flat-picking style that Watson made famous came out in the rollicking “Black Mountain Rag” and the soulful “Columbus Stockade Blues.”
Michael Vollmer, a University graduate student, said he was impressed with the strength of Watson’s voice, as well as his ability to still play a mean guitar.
