Arthel “Doc” Watson’s mastery of flatpicking helped make the case for the guitar as a lead instrument in the 1950s and ’60s, when it was often considered a backup for the mandolin ...

Last year, Doc Watson stood in front of the crowd at the Spirit of Sunday service at MerleFest, playing a guitar that had been made for him by his good Skip to main content Skip to main content ...

Folk legend Arthel “Doc” Watson died last night in ... across a new generation of folk musicians. Before Watson’s influence, the guitar was mostly a back-up instrument in folk music.

"He's one of those lucky guys," said Huttlinger, who studied Watson's methods when he first picked up a guitar. "When he plays something, he puts his stamp on it — it's Doc Watson." Merle began ...

Arthel "Doc" Watson's mastery of flatpicking helped make the case for the guitar as a lead instrument in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was often considered a backup for the mandolin, fiddle or banjo.

Since the early ‘60s, guitar novices have been slowing down Doc Watson albums to figure out just how he crafts those elegantly crisp, tastefully flat-picked melodies. Sure, it was easier in the ...

Doc Watson was the finest guitar picker of his time. Paul Natkin/Archive Photos via Getty Images Ted Olson, East Tennessee State University Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was born on March 3 ...

The "anything" that Doc Watson invented is bluegrass guitar. For everyone who's ever tried to play a melody on an acoustic guitar — which is really almost everyone — Arthel Lane Watson ...

Arthel “Doc” Watson’s mastery of flatpicking helped make the case for the guitar as a lead instrument in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was often considered a backup for the mandolin ...

Arthel "Doc" Watson's mastery of flatpicking helped make the case for the guitar as a lead instrument in the 1950s and 1960s, when it was often considered a backup for the mandolin, fiddle or banjo.

"He's one of those lucky guys," said Huttlinger, who studied Watson's methods when he first picked up a guitar. "When he plays something, he puts his stamp on it — it's Doc Watson." Merle began ...