Eddy Merle Watson

 In the early, dark hours of October 23, 1985, Eddy Merle Watson rolled his farm tractor down a steep hillside near his home, ending the life of one of the world's great musicians in a tragedy worthy of the blues ballads he loved. Some people knew Merle Watson well; some were acquainted with him as a consequence of brief interactions; some had only the privilege of seeing him perform his musical wizardry on stage or listening to one or more of his many recordings. Everyone loved and respected him.

Merle touched lives world wide as shown by the more than 700 cards, letters, and other written condolences as well as the numerous phone calls and personal visits received by his family after his tragic accident. This tremendous outpouring of support was not engendered by a love of Merle's music alone but also by the way his charisma and kindness transcended his fundamental shyness and silence on stage to reveal themselves in his exquisite finger work and gentle smile.

Merle Watson was born in February 1949 following a beautiful spring-like day. During his 21 year career he traveled more than four million miles by automobile in addition to the many thousands of miles he flew. Ultimately, Merle and his legendary father, Doc Watson, would tour the U.S. many times over performing in all but two states. They performed in Africa, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and most European countries and took pride in sharing their musical talents and heritage from the stages of some of the most celebrated theatres in the world's largest cities to the dusty, remote villages of the South African bush.

At six years of age, Merle fell victim to the polio epidemic and was paralyzed from the waist down for almost two months. The illness left him with hip and joint damage and a bad limp. Howard Campbell, a friend of Doc's, gave Merle a used bicycle and the therapy of riding significantly reduced his limp. As a consequence of his childhood illness, Merle would often experience pain throughout his adult life but his spirit and determination allowed him to persevere in a musical career that delighted fans of acoustic music, time and time again.

Merle was 14 years old in 1963 when Doc Watson took the stage at the Newport Folk Festival where he was embraced enthusiastically by the folk community. This performance and a historic concert with the father of bluegrass, Bill Monroe, at Town Hall in New York City in 1964, catapulted Doc Watson to the forefront of the folk revival. It was at this point in his legendary father's blossoming career that Merle, at home with his mother and sister, made a momentous decision.

"Mama," he said, "I've decided what I want to do."

"What's that, honey? Play the drums?" RosaLee asked since Merle had received a set of drums the previous Christmas.

"No. I've got nobody to play drums with except a George Jones record. I want to play the guitar." Merle said.

With that RosaLee took out a guitar and taught Merle his first basic chords. In June of 1964, he accompanied his father to concerts in Berkeley and San Francisco, CA, performing for the first time before an audience of 12,000 people. In November 1964, he and Doc recorded their first LP album, Doc Watson and Son.

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