 |
| 1923 |
Arthel Lane "Doc" Watson born in Stoney Fork
Township, near Deep Gap, North Carolina, on March 3, 1923. |
| 1947 |
Doc marries Rosa Lee Carlton. |
| 1949 |
Son Eddy Merle Watson born (Named after Eddy Arnold and Merle Travis). |
| 1951 |
Daughter Nancy Ellen Watson born. |
| 1953 |
Doc gets a job playing electric lead guitar in Jack Williams country
and western swing band. |
| 1960 |
Doc is "discovered" when Ralph Rinzler meets him while
in North Carolina to record Clarence "Tom" Ashley. |
| 1961 |
Doc, Gaither Carlton, Tom Ashley, Fred Price, and Clint Howard travel
to New York to perform a concert sponsored by Friends of Old Time Music. |
| 1962 |
Doc's first solo appearance, at Gerde's Folk City. |
| 1964 |
Merle starts learning the guitar; in June he plays backup
guitar for Doc at the Berkeley Folk Festival. |
| 1973 |
Doc receives his first Grammy award. This
is followed by five more Grammys over the years. |
| 1985 |
Merle Watson dies tragically in a tractor accident on the night
of October 23rd. |
| 1988 |
Doc is awarded the National Heritage Fellowship by the
National
Endowment for the Arts. |
| 1988 |
The first Merlefest is held in remembrance of Merle Watson. |
| 1997 |
Doc receives the the National Medal of the
Arts from President Clinton. |
| 2004 |
Doc is awarded the Lifetime
Achievement Award by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences
at their 2004 Grammy Awards show. |