A HOUSE RESOLUTION honoring arthel lane "doc" Watson, legendary singer and musician.
Whereas, Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson, the sixth of nine children, was born in the Stoney Fork Township near Deep Gap, North Carolina, on March 3, 1923, to General Dixon Watson and Annie Greene Watson; and
Whereas, a childhood illness left Arthel Watson visually impaired by the age of two; and
Whereas, Arthel Watson developed a love for music at an early age; by age five, he had learned to play the harmonica, and by age 11, he had learned to play a homemade banjo; and
Whereas, Arthel Watson began playing the guitar while attending the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh, and soon afterward he and his brother, Linney, began playing traditional music around Western North Carolina; and
Whereas, at the age of 18, Arthel Watson joined a band that had a regular radio program in the Town of Lenoir, and for the next six years they played throughout North Carolina; and
Whereas, during this time, Arthel Watson got his nickname from a radio announcer, who heard an audience member shout, "Call him Doc"; and
Whereas, Doc Watson played and sang a large variety of folk and country music songs he learned from family members, neighbors, records, and radio; and
Whereas, in 1947, Doc Watson married Rosa Lee Carlton, the daughter of fiddler Gaither W. Carlton, and they were married for more than 66 years; and
Whereas, early in his marriage, Doc Watson worked as a piano tuner to support his family; and
Whereas, in 1953, Doc Watson began playing the electric guitar with Jack Williams' country and western swing band and developed his trademark acoustic flatpicking style; and
Whereas, in 1961, Doc Watson joined the Clarence "Tom" Ashley String Band and switched to acoustic guitar. That same year, he made his recording debut on Clarence Ashley's "Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley's"; and
Whereas, during the 1960s, a revival in folk music began, and Doc Watson's popularity increased with the help of Ralph Rinzler; and
Whereas, in 1963, Doc Watson performed at the Newport Folk Festival; and
Whereas, in 1964, Doc Watson performed at a concert with Bill Monroe, considered to be the father of bluegrass, at Town Hall in New York City and released his first solo album, "Doc Watson"; and
Whereas, during that same year, Doc Watson began performing and recording with his son, Merle Watson, who accompanied his father on guitar, making 20 albums and winning four Grammys together; and
Whereas, in 1972, Doc Watson sang and played guitar on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," along with other country and bluegrass stars, including Mother Maybelle Carter, Merle Travis, Roy Acuff, Earl Scruggs, and Jimmy Martin; and
Whereas, in 1988, Doc Watson began hosting Merlefest, an annual festival held on the campus of Wilkes Community College as a fundraiser and memorial to his son, Merle, who died in 1985; and
Whereas, Doc Watson made over 50 recordings and received numerous honors over the years, including seven Grammy Awards in the categories of Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording in 1973 and 1974, Best Country Instrumental Performance in 1979, Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1987, 1991, and 2002, and Best Country Instrumental Performance in 2006; and
Whereas, Doc Watson was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences during the organization's Grammy Awards show in 2004; and
Whereas, Doc Watson was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association Hall of Honor in 2000 and the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 and received the National Medal of Arts in 1997, the National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1988, and several honorary degrees, including Wilkes Community College's first honorary Associate in Arts degree in 2005; and
Whereas, in 2011, Doc Watson was honored by the Town of Boone with a life‑size statue that was inscribed, "Just one of the people"; and
Whereas, Doc Watson died on May 29, 2012, at the age of 89; and
Whereas, Doc Watson is survived by his daughter, Nancy Ellen; several grandchildren and great‑grandchildren; and his brothers, David Watson and Linney Watson; and
Whereas, Doc Watson has enriched our culture with his unique mix of traditional Appalachian folk music, blues, country, gospel, and bluegrass, and his flatpicking style has influenced generations of guitarists; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson and recognizes the life and accomplishments of this native son for the lasting legacy of his music.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.