mkr@mmm.UUCP (MKR) (05/02/86)
[ mama don't 'llow no line-eaters 'round here ] Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Doc Watson on stage at the newly renovated World Theater in St. Paul (home of Prairie Home Companion). Marvelous theater (and I've seen some of the best - including the Bolshoi and the Drury Lane - the World isn't as gaudy as some, but it is very taseful and an absolutely beautiful theater). For those of you who saw the PHC telecast, you saw the theater. It looked a *lot* bigger on TV. I sat in the 5th row, but there didn't really appear to be a truly *bad* seat in the house. This concert was part of "opening week" for the theater. But that's not what I wanted to tell you about... Doc was great, as usual. Accompanying him was his usual bassist - T. Michael Coleman (great bass player) and Jack Somebodyorother, who appeared to be a good old boy from South Carolina. He was indeed worthy of sharing the stage with Doc. All in all, the show was very good. They all seemed relaxed and even joked around a bit. Doc played Deep River Blues, Milk Cow Calf's Blues, Summertime and a whole lot more. All of it was excellent. He dedicated a few numbers and short little stories to Merle, and there were a couple tears shed (I noticed my wife wiping her eyes). But the thing that really struck me is how much I missed Merle. Now Doc is obviously great enough to stand on his own, and that Jack guy was very good as well, but I've seen Doc & Merle together enough to be familiar with what they could do. Doc & Merle just seemed to be two very compatible players who blended and supported each other so beautifully. Jack was good - and Doc was great - but Merle, we miss you. When you played with your dad, it was heavenly. --MKR
bob@felix.UUCP (Bob Statsinger) (05/07/86)
What happened to Merle Watson? I'm clueless here. Is he dead? If so, how/when? Please reply in net.music or e-mail.
pete@valid.UUCP (05/09/86)
> What happened to Merle Watson? I'm clueless here. > Is he dead? If so, how/when? Please reply in net.music or e-mail. As far as I remember, Merle died in a tractor accident on his farm. He and his music are missed by many people. -- -Pete Zakel (..!{hplabs,amd,pyramid,ihnp4}!pesnta!valid!pete)
mkr@mmm.UUCP (MKR) (05/16/86)
In article <271@valid.UUCP> pete@valid.UUCP writes: >> What happened to Merle Watson? I'm clueless here. >> Is he dead? If so, how/when? Please reply in net.music or e-mail. > >As far as I remember, Merle died in a tractor accident on his farm. He and >his music are missed by many people. >-- >-Pete Zakel (..!{hplabs,amd,pyramid,ihnp4}!pesnta!valid!pete) Yes, it happened within this last year. --MKR