An Evening with Doc Watson

September 23, 2010 • 1 Comment

I am fortunate enough to be a photographer for the PBS "Song of the Mountains" concert series performed monthly at the beautifully restored Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Va.

My last visit was especially memorable , as I got to meet and hang out a bit with the legendary Appalachian Blue Grass musician , Doc Watson.

In the 70's , I went to a few of the Galax Fiddlers conventions and I remember stop

ping and listening to Doc Watson and he asked if there were any request and I yelled out "Keep on the Sunny Side", which I immediately had to run out and do some of my

primitive unruly foot stomping to ! :) I have always loved the message of that song and that memory comes forth every time that tune is picked.

Doc is the kind of guy who needs no warming up to. He is immediately gracious, warm and familiar from the first "Hello". Doc is also a great story teller. I enjoyed hearing how he got his name , and where his beautiful guitar was crafted (Wayne Henderson of course) and several other endearing stories , most of them humorous and heart warming and some quite painful.

I naturally took a lot of pictures of Doc and

here is a couple from the evening. One of him playing the banjo which he signed that will be auctioned off in the future to help support "Song of the Mountains" and other one, is of him just as he about to sit down on stage and carrying his Henderson guitar and one of him performing.

His performance was flawless and straight from the heart. You could tell by the tender expressions of the audience members that Doc is very well loved and appreciated by all. He is truly an Appalachian Treasure and we are so fortunate to have him among us..

My plan is to create a web site to show case, as a tribute to the musicians, all my "Song of the Mountain" portraits and offer some for purchase. I also plan to offer them at the "Black Rooster Cafe" which is located right beside the Lincoln Theatre. Once all the details are worked out I will come back and let ya know. I want to insure this is accomplished with the utmost respect these musicians deserve.

I want to thank Tim White , the very talented host of the show, for this special opportunity. I am very grateful to him

The next show is October the 2nd 2010, so ya'll come on out and see the show. You will be blessed I guarantee it!

http://songofthemountains.org/

Images are protected by copyright law and are the artistic property of Susi Lawson , they may not be copied, downloaded are used in anyway whatsoever. Thank you for respecting the rights of all Artists.

Keywords: Doc Watson, Virginia, Susi Lawson, Song of the Mountains, Marion

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Amy Randolph(non-registered)

Hello! I'm so happy to have stumbled upon this blog post! I was looking online for that Song of the Mountains episode, because I would like to authenticate Doc's signature on my guitar. My husband and daughter and I were at that concert and later we went backstage to get my guitar signed by Doc. I remember you (the woman with the camera). He was sitting in a fold-up chair near the back entrance, telling you a story. As near as I can tell, there was something about "the Holy Ghost" touching him on the shoulder. Do you have any recollection of that? Anyway, he agreed to sign my guitar but only after he played it a little (I will never let that guitar go!) My husband was with me, and he asked Doc to sign a card for his daughter (my stepdaughter), who had been in a bad car accident and was recovering in the hospital. Doc signed the card (with the help of his driver and manager) and said, "I'll pray for her tonight, and you can tell her I said that." Two years later, she died of cancer, and we learned that before she passed, she had thrown away all the get well cards sent to her--all except for Doc's. He entered our lives so lovingly. He was a beautiful man.

Best,
Amy Randolph

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An Evening with Doc Watson

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