Doc Watson Underrated?

Subject: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: Elmore
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 12:44 AM

No, not as a guitarist, (obviously), but as a singer. Doc could do justice to a traditional ballad, or to a pop song like Summertime. I miss him. YouTube is a blessing, and a curse.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 05:12 AM

Not underrated by me, he had a commanding way with not just traditional ballads but also Western Swing, Rockabilly, Country Blues, Pop, Country, Bluegrass etc.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: Acorn4
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 05:24 AM

His version of "Down in the Valley to Pray" is classic.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 10:14 AM

Not under rated by anyone I know. Under appreciated by the world at large maybe.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: Felipa
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 12:49 PM

the man is famous in the right circles, how can you think we under-rate him?

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: Bill D
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 02:09 PM

I get the feeling that he would not have sung himself unless he felt he was good enough...
In about 1971, I heard him live in Winfield.. with Merle. Some group in the audience kept teasingly shouting, "Sing, Merle!"
   Doc finally leaned up to the mic and said, "No, he's not going to... to tell you the truth, I don't believe the boy CAN sing!"

Everyone shut up, kinda startled. It was hard to tell how serious he was, but Merle did not sing.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 02:21 PM

Marvelously gifted musician.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: cnd
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 03:28 PM

On the album Live and Pickin' that Doc did with Merle, I believe he made a similar joke, Bill D. It was more clearly in jest there, though, as he(?) and at the very least the audience laughed. I can't recall which song in particular it was on, though.

I can agree with Elmore that Doc is much more famous for his guitar work than his singing, and that his excellent voice is sometimes overshadowed by it.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 03:49 PM

And the same with a Vanguard Two Fer. Doc and Merle Live in Cornell.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: cnd
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 04:02 PM

My mistake, that was the album I was thinking of--not Live and Pickin.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson Underrated?
From: GUEST,gillymor
Date: 25 Oct 20 - 04:15 PM

On the On Stage LP a girl cried out "sing one Merle" and Doc responded something like "she sounded almost pretty enough to persuade you to sing". Not sure how the young lady felt about that left-handed compliment.