Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park
Live Oak, Florida, March 25, 2000
This was my first time hearing Doc live. I'd been hearing his name for years, but had never been blessed with the opportunity of
actually hearing him. In fact, I had never even bought any of his albums. A friend spoke so highly of him and had followed his career so religiously over the last fifteen years or so that I knew I had to
hear Doc when they announced he would be performing Saturday. We had been attending the annual Springfest together for the last two years and this, in my friend's mind, was a very momentous occasion. I mean,
this was Doc Watson, the king.
We settled into our seats in front of the main stage in the amphitheatre for what would become a very entertaining hour of music. Randy Judy of Magnolia Music and
Events took the microphone and said “We all know why you are here. Folks, I don't know of anybody that exemplifies American roots music better than this next fellow we're gonna bring up here for you.
He's been doing this his whole lifetime and I'm just tickled to death to have him down here underneath the oak trees by the Suwannee. Folks, would you please make welcome from Deep Gap, North Carolina, Mr.
Doc Watson!!” Thunderous applause, yips, yoo-hoos, and hoorays welcomed Doc to the stage.
I didn't know what lay in store for me. My first thought was “I didn't know he is blind.” I said that to a
friend sitting next to me and she echoed my sentiment. Doc broke into some lively tunes with an adeptness in those fingers that produced some mighty fine music. He was accompanied by his grandson- his son
Merle's son- Richard Watson. He played for close to an hour, sixteen or seventeen numbers. They started off with “You don't Know My Mind” and moved on into other equally as infectious tunes. “Summertime” was
especially apropos for this warm late March afternoon on the banks of the Suwannee in north Florida. He flawlessly took us through “Sliding Devil,” “Precious Lord,” “Nobody Knows But Me,” “The Freight Train
Song,” “Waiting for Times to Get Better,” and others. The crowd went wild after each song.
It is hard to say whether Doc's picking accompanies his singing or vice versa. I do know the total
package serves up some lively music everyone enjoys. This is evident by watching the audience -- toes tapping, heads bobbing, bodies swaying, hands clapping, fingers snapping, and smiles on all the faces of
everyone in awe of this amazing, brilliant musician known as Doc Watson. It is virtually impossible to sit still at a Doc Watson show– unless you happen to be in a catatonic stupor. Don't miss him when he
comes to your neck of the woods. You won't be sorry.
by Sally Bessonette
