Merle Watson
Musician · 1949–1985 · Deep Gap, North Carolina
Best known for
Guitar
Banjo
Merle Watson was the guitarist son of Doc Watson and his father's musical partner for 20 years — a skilled flatpicker, slide guitarist, and banjoist in his own right whose collaboration with his blind father produced some of the most treasured duet recordings of the folk and bluegrass revival. His death in a farm accident at age 36 devastated Doc and led to the creation of MerleFest in his honor.
- Born Eddy Merle Watson in Deep Gap, North Carolina. Named after Eddy Arnold and Merle Travis, both his father's favorites.
- Taught himself guitar as a teenager during a summer in 1964 while his father was gone on a tour. Within weeks was good enough that Doc brought him on the road.
- Joined his father's touring group at age 15 in 1964. Played alongside Doc for the next 20 years.
- Began as a rhythm guitarist supporting his father's lead flatpicking but quickly developed into a skilled lead player himself, particularly in slide guitar and bottleneck styles that added a blues voice to Doc's traditional repertoire.
- Appeared on nearly every Doc Watson album from 1966 onward: Doc Watson & Son (1965), Good Deal! Doc Watson in Nashville (1968), Ballads from Deep Gap (1971), Then and Now (1973), and many others. Many albums credited as “Doc & Merle Watson.”
- The Watsons won three Grammys as a duo for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording (Folk): Then and Now (1973), Two Days in November (1974), and Elementary Doctor Watson (1972).
- Appeared on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Will the Circle Be Unbroken (1972) alongside Doc.
- Also a skilled banjo player; recorded on several family projects.
- Killed on October 23, 1985 in a tractor accident on his farm in Lenoir, North Carolina at age 36.
- His father founded MerleFest at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina in 1988 as a tribute — now one of the largest roots-music festivals in America.
- Son Richard Watson continued the family tradition, playing with his grandfather Doc in later years.
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Doc WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc Watson
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Doc and Merle WatsonPlayed on recordings with Doc and Merle Watson
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Marty StuartPlayed on recording with Marty Stuart
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The Watson FamilyPlayed on recording with The Watson Family