May 28th, 2011
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Author: Anthony Scoles
Correspondent
At 88 years old, with seven Grammy awards and a Grammy lifetime achievement award, you’d think that legendary folksinger Doc Watson had seen enough of the stage. And although his touring schedule has slowed down a bit over the past few years, it has by no means come to a halt.
“Doc’s booked all the way through 89 years old,” said frequent collaborator and touring partner David Holt. “I don’t know how all that will pan out, but it’s on the books.”
Holt will be joining Watson for a concert at the Keswick Theatre on Sunday, June 5. The show’s primary goal is to raise money for the nonprofit Philadelphia Folksong Society prior to its 50th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival this summer.
For Holt, who also has his own band, it’s yet another chance to play with one of the masters — an opportunity he rarely passes up.
“If I have something else going on, I’m always going to defer to any jobs Doc has,” said Holt. “It’s such a rare treat to be able to play with someone like him. Doc is probably the greatest rhythm guitar player of all time. He’s a great lead guitar play too, obviously, but to have his rhythm behind you is about as good as it gets musically.”
Although the pair met in 1972, it wasn’t until 1989 that they became the close friends they are today. Holt had asked Watson to join him on a CD he was recording with Chet Atkins. Holt said they had a lot of fun making the album, but shortly after that, tragedy struck: Holt received word that his daughter had just been killed in a car accident.
“Doc was one of the first people to be down here for support,” said Holt.
Watson could surely relate. Just four years prior, he had lost his son and music partner, Merle, to an accident involving a tractor.
“That was a real bonding thing when Doc came down here,” said Holt. “A terrible, terrible way to bond. I’m sure anyone who has lost a child can understand.”
Holt and Watson have been practically inseparable ever since. In 1998 they hit the road touring and haven’t looked back. Holt said they still play at least a couple of shows every month. He has nothing but the utmost admiration for the man he sees as his mentor and one of his closest friends.
“To me, it’s like being up onstage with Mark Twain or something,” said Holt. “He’s our greatest American folk musician. I’d say he’s the most musical person I’ve ever met. Just internally, naturally musical. Doc can take an old folk song and make it sound new. He can take a new song and make it sound old.
“He’s already a legend now,” Holt continued. “People 20 years from now will look back and say, ‘yeah, I was at a Doc Watson concert.’” Continued…
Celebrating the anniversary re-release of their 1986 album “Reel and Rock,” and with more than three decades of material between the duo, it’s certain that Holt and Watson will have quite a show in store for the Keswick crowd. Holt prefers to take a back seat to Watson when they play together, letting the old sage take up as much of the show as he wants.
“We never know where we’re going to go or what we direction we’re headed in,” said Holt when discussing how the band prepares for each show. “One of the things I do is try to elicit stories from Doc just so the audience can hear that more personal side. It’s challenging and it’s fun and there’s just nobody out there that sounds like him. Playing with Doc and just being around him is definitely one of the high points of my career.”
And even though Watson is booked all through the next year, Holt believes this really could be the Philadelphia area’s last chance to see the master at work.
“I would say we’re in the last phases of Doc touring, being out on the road,” said Holt. “I’m going to venture a guess and say this will probably be our last concert up in that area.”
IF You Go
Doc Watson & David Holt
will perform at
the Keswick Theatre,
Easton Rd. & Keswick Ave.,
Glenside, PA 19038,
Sunday, June 5, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $29.50 – $125.
Info: 215-572-7650.
Anthony Scoles
Correspondent
At 88 years old, with seven Grammy awards and a Grammy lifetime achievement award, you’d think that legendary folksinger Doc Watson had seen enough of the stage. And although his touring schedule has slowed down a bit over the past few years, it has by no means come to a halt.
“Doc’s booked all the way through 89 years old,” said frequent collaborator and touring partner David Holt. “I don’t know how all that will pan out, but it’s on the books.”
Holt will be joining Watson for a concert at the Keswick Theatre on Sunday, June 5. The show’s primary goal is to raise money for the nonprofit Philadelphia Folksong Society prior to its 50th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival this summer.
For Holt, who also has his own band, it’s yet another chance to play with one of the masters — an opportunity he rarely passes up.
“If I have something else going on, I’m always going to defer to any jobs Doc has,” said Holt. “It’s such a rare treat to be able to play with someone like him. Doc is probably the greatest rhythm guitar player of all time. He’s a great lead guitar play too, obviously, but to have his rhythm behind you is about as good as it gets musically.”
Although the pair met in 1972, it wasn’t until 1989 that they became the close friends they are today. Holt had asked Watson to join him on a CD he was recording with Chet Atkins. Holt said they had a lot of fun making the album, but shortly after that, tragedy struck: Holt received word that his daughter had just been killed in a car accident.
“Doc was one of the first people to be down here for support,” said Holt.
Watson could surely relate. Just four years prior, he had lost his son and music partner, Merle, to an accident involving a tractor.
“That was a real bonding thing when Doc came down here,” said Holt. “A terrible, terrible way to bond. I’m sure anyone who has lost a child can understand.”
Holt and Watson have been practically inseparable ever since. In 1998 they hit the road touring and haven’t looked back. Holt said they still play at least a couple of shows every month. He has nothing but the utmost admiration for the man he sees as his mentor and one of his closest friends.
“To me, it’s like being up onstage with Mark Twain or something,” said Holt. “He’s our greatest American folk musician. I’d say he’s the most musical person I’ve ever met. Just internally, naturally musical. Doc can take an old folk song and make it sound new. He can take a new song and make it sound old.
“He’s already a legend now,” Holt continued. “People 20 years from now will look back and say, ‘yeah, I was at a Doc Watson concert.’”
Celebrating the anniversary re-release of their 1986 album “Reel and Rock,” and with more than three decades of material between the duo, it’s certain that Holt and Watson will have quite a show in store for the Keswick crowd. Holt prefers to take a back seat to Watson when they play together, letting the old sage take up as much of the show as he wants.
“We never know where we’re going to go or what we direction we’re headed in,” said Holt when discussing how the band prepares for each show. “One of the things I do is try to elicit stories from Doc just so the audience can hear that more personal side. It’s challenging and it’s fun and there’s just nobody out there that sounds like him. Playing with Doc and just being around him is definitely one of the high points of my career.”
And even though Watson is booked all through the next year, Holt believes this really could be the Philadelphia area’s last chance to see the master at work.
“I would say we’re in the last phases of Doc touring, being out on the road,” said Holt. “I’m going to venture a guess and say this will probably be our last concert up in that area.”
IF You Go
Doc Watson & David Holt
will perform at
the Keswick Theatre,
Easton Rd. & Keswick Ave.,
Glenside, PA 19038,
Sunday, June 5, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $29.50 – $125.
Info: 215-572-7650.
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