1989
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| Building the Doc Watson Theatre, a.k.a. Watson Stage, in 1989 |
In preparation for the second festival, “B” researched bluegrass music and continued his work developing the college grounds. One big improvement was building the Doc and Merle Watson Theatre. Ralph Williams knew of a church that had bought trusses that were too small for its new building. “B” asked Dwight Hartzog, the WCC construction instructor, if he could build a stage and use the trusses to cover it. Dwight was amenable, and the trusses were donated. Dwight used volunteer and construction student labor to build the covered venue, so the 1989 festival was held on the skeleton of the original Watson Stage with the Cabin Stage serving as a “tweener” to cover set changes on its larger neighbor.
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| The first box office |
The 1989 lineup included fewer individual artists and more bluegrass bands, such as Hot Rize, Jim and Jesse and The Virginia Boys, Mac Wiseman and the Wildwood Express, Ralph Stanley and The Clinch Mountain Boys, and Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. Another historical moment at the ’89 festival was EmmyLou Harris performing on the Watson Stage with a young Vince Gill playing backup for her. Doc said it was a great festival, but he wanted a greater variety of traditional music and more opportunity for musicians to jam in unique combinations.
Motivated by Doc, “B” began researching folk music and contacted Robin and Linda Williams who knew the scene well. They suggested he call Pete Seeger to see if he would play. When “B” called, Pete’s wife, Toshi, answered and said that they had always wanted Doc to play at Pete’s Clearwater Festival in upstate New York. Pete agreed to play at MerleFest if Doc would come up to his event. When “B” asked Doc about it, he said he would be glad to play if “B” would take him up there. “B” readily agreed and so began his intense exposure to the world of “traditional plus” music.
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| Dedication of Doc & Merle Watson Theatre |
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| Vince Gill sings back up for EmmyLou Harris in 1989 |