The Cy Crumley Scrapbook
ET&WNC Railroad


Tour 21: Doc Watson Day - June 6, 2008


     
 

Your host and narrator for this tour is Henry.

On June 6, 2008 Johnson City Mayor, Dr. Phil Roe, presented Doc Watson with a Proclamation from the City of Johnson City, TN recognizing the legendary musician's contributions to the cultural heritage of the region. Read about plans for the event courtesy of the Mountain Times newspaper.

 


Click on each photo to see a larger view.
 

Doc Watson Day
Date: June 6, 2008

Mayor Phil Roe introduces Doc Watson and reads the proclamation declaring "Doc Watson Day" in Johnson City. Phil Roe, who is a retired gynecologist that delivered thousands of babies in his long medical career quipped: "This proclamation is presented from one "doc" to another...." An enthusiastic crowd of approximately 40,000 attended the outdoor concert.

 

  .

Jack Lawrence
with Doc
Date: 2008
Jack Lawrence
 

VIP Pass
Date: 2008

To begin the concert, I was perched in a Main Street window ledge and had a rather poor vantage point to get photos of the show. My friends, Craig and Tina, observing the situation, offered me a VIP pass to join them in the second row reserved seating area directly in front of the stage. Talk about good fortune for old Henry......

Doc, who had been quite ill earlier in 2008, apologized for not being in his best guitar form and being "rusty." The appreciative crowd gave thunderous ovations. One particularly loud fan kept shouting - WATSON '08!!! - referring to the Presidential primaries then underway. Another guy periodically called out to hear Doc's classic, "Tennessee Stud". Here is a version of Tennessee Stud - currently available on youtube from a 1991 concert. Doc replied, "I don't ride that horse anymore!"

 

 
What Should
we Play Jack?
Date: 2008
  .

Jeff Little
Joins Doc
Date: 2008

The setting for the Blue Plum headliner concerts is quite picturesque. Illuminated street lights, flashing traffic signals, 1880s buildings and great acoustics - with an occasional Norfolk Southern train are a unique experience. Joining Doc and Jack following their first set and a 20-minute intermission was pianist Jeff Little from Jamestown, North Carolina. Jeff's arrival sparked rockabilly numbers including Doc's rousing performance of Blue Suede Shoes. I believe this set caught the crowd by surprise and Jeff Little's piano and harmonica skills stirred Doc and Jack to ramp up the tempo. The rockabilly set was reminiscent of Doc's 1950s work in the Jack Williams Band.

 

Jeff Little
Date: 2008

 

 

  .

Encore
Date: 2008

Above Jack and Doc discuss what they will perform for the encore. Doc Watson Day in Johnson City, Tennessee was a rousing success and a fortunate crowd witnessed one of the all time great Blue Plum Festival performances. Doc Watson's ties to Johnson City as a performing artist span a 50 year period.

Below is a photo of Clarence "Tom" Ashley. Ashley was one of the local artists recorded by Columbia Records in the famous 1928-1929 Johnson City Sessions. Ashley's recording of "Coo Coo Bird" was one of the highlights of Columbia's local sessions and this cult classic has been recorded and performed by numerous artists including Janis Joplin. Doc Watson's emergence as a national recording artist originated with his work with Clarence Ashley during the early 1960s folk music revival.

  .

Clarence "Tom" Ashley
Date: 1960s
 

Byrd Moore's
Hot Shots

 

  .

Doc at
Down Home
Date: 2007

For years, Doc Watson has performed an annual holiday concert each December at the Down Home in Johnson City. This is an extremely tough ticket as the Down Home is a small venue (billed as a "listening room") and Doc's two shows sell out almost immediately. In December 2007, my friend Harriett Williams invited me to attend Doc's show and meet him following his last performance. Harriett's uncle, Jack - was the leader of the Jack Williams Band which featured Doc on electric guitar in the 1950s. Jack Williams was an extremely gifted piano player and his band was one of the best ever in Northeast Tennessee. Harriett, as a young girl, accompanied the band to local performances often performing a dance routine.

In my interview with Doc, he remembered playing local clubs and events and recounted that he particularly enjoyed playing for the veterans at the Johnson City's Mountain Home VA Center.

  .
Doc Watson with Harriett Williams
Date: 2007

 

 

Doc with Jack Lawrence
Date: 2007
 

Thanks Harriett
Date: 2007
 

Until next Christmas....
Date: 2007

 

 

Arthel "Doc" Watson
Date: 1939
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Press Photo

The photos above are from the Doc's Guitar website. Special thanks to the Blue Plum Festival organizers (particularly Kim, Ellen, and Christine) for bringing Doc's show in to headline the 2008 event. Also the City of Johnson City's efforts to host Doc Watson Day in honor of the legendary performer from neighboring Deep Gap, North Carolina will be long remembered.

By now you are asking, "Why is this Doc Watson Tribute page placed in the Cy Crumley ET&WNC Railroad album?" Doc Watson's father, General Watson, worked on the track crew that laid the ET&WNC track from Shulls Mill to Boone (completed in 1919). General Watson also worked on the Norfolk & Western line from White Top, Virginia (present Virginia Creeper Trail) to West Jefferson, North Carolina. Many of Doc's finest musical collections featured train songs. Check out the cd, Riding the Midnight Train, for some of his best work including the song Greenville Trestle High.



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