The World Loses Doc Watson

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Shortly after 5 pm Pacific time Tuesday, Doc Watson's manager announced that the music legend wad dead. A spokesperson for the North Carolina hospital where Watson succumbed confirmed the sad news.

Early Sunday morning, word came that Doc Watson, the 89-year-old roots-Americana and bluegrass music legend, had been hospitalized in North Carolina in critical condition.
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Watson had colon surgery Thursday night and had been doing well. But a follow-up surgery Saturday night was needed, and Doc did not rebound as he had on Friday.
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Watson, who was blind since infancy, inspired countless musicians with his outlook and legendary prowess on the banjo, guitar and other string instruments.
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He won seven GRAMMY Awards in addition to a Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY.
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Doc was founder and host of the annual MERLEFEST, named for his late son, musician MERLE WATSON, who died when his farm tractor overturned in 1985.
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We expect many eulogies and tributes will come, an outpouring of the love and appreciation that countless musicians and fans have for Doc. For now, we simply hope that some cosmic jam session is happening, with Doc in the midst of it.
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For all the events of the week ahead go to the current complete edition, published Thursday, May 24.
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