I'm so grateful for technology and RUclips. As an Aussie who was born in the 80s . I probably would have never seen nor heard of 90% of the musicians I have known. So glad I got to see and hear some of Docs songs and videos. ❤
If you can find it for sale someplace, their 1980 duo LP for RCA, "Reflections," is well-worth picking up. It has the much the same down-home feeling this performance has. Great playing, storytelling, joking around, you name it, those guys had it covered!
Doc is one of those musicians that I'm just so happy to have seen... I don't really care too much about any musician's star power but I will say that I felt I was closer to God on the days/evenings that i spent going to see Doc play... i don't consider myself super religious but his shows were spiritual events for me...
It was one of the musical highlights of my life to be able to see Doc Watson live in person twice, both times at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL. The man was an absolute virtuoso on pretty much any instrument he picked up, and a wonderful storyteller, humorist and singer, too. I miss him and Merle something terrible. I sure am glad for their recordings! I was fortunate-enough to see Chet live, too, and although I had long-known of his prowess on guitar, I didn't realize until that show how well-rounded a performer he was. Singing, story-telling, humor, you name it - all delivered with that unique charm of his.
Judson Clayto: This doctor brings good medicine for the soul. I heard once that Leo Kottke was put on Earth to remind the rest of us that we can't play guitar. I would say the same about these two.
I always loved music and try to play guitar, but when I accidentally ran across Doc, Merle, and T. Michael Coleman in Knoxville at the Tivoli theater life changed. Thanks Mr. Watson, you've been a true inspiration.
Whether it was Chet Atkins, Earl Scruggs or some select others, the greatest pickers knew, when they really wanted to shine yet still have fun, they called in Doc Watson!
@ Brandon Johnson - Re: "Damn Doc is like a machine!" Want an idea how great Doc Watson really was? I'm sixty-one now, an old guy - so I've been around a long time and heard a lot of musicians, good, bad, great and everything in between. And in my many decades of listening to and playing music myself, I have never run into anyone who can match Doc's prowess as a flat-picker specifically, or an old-time country musician generally. The guy was just a virtuoso on pretty much any instrument he picked up. Singer, storyteller, humorist, you name it, he could do it. The late Tony Rice, himself one of the finest flat-pickers ever to live, played Doc's tunes, but never sounded as good on them as Doc did. Watson's rock-solid time-keeping, perfect pitch and other musicianship was so respected that he did seminars for college-level music schools - even though he had no formal training whatsoever. Don't get me wrong: Tony Rice was in every way an all-time great; it is just that there was only one Doc Watson. Doc was also a fabulous fingerstyle player, a skill he displayed on many of his recordings. His style was modeled less on Chet and more on Merle Travis - for whom Doc's late son Merle was named - but he sounded great that way, too. I think Doc was one of those guys who could have played pretty much any style he wanted. The two times I saw him live, he and his accompanists played old-time country and mountain music, sure, but also blues, jazz, rags and even a couple of classical-influenced numbers.
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix both admitted that rock guitarist had nothing on the country guys. It’s only the braindead fans that say otherwise.
Had the pleasure & privilege to meet and know Doc, visited at home in Deep Gap, NC, lovely guy and great picker. He once told me '....If I could play like Chet, I'd be a happy man.' I always reckoned his wife, Rosa Lee, bought his shirts. I think the proof is here.
Joe B.: True ! I think you need to go back a couple of generations, Chet was sweep picking when I was in diapers(I'm 65). I don't really get how sighted people can play like Chet, and I REALLY don't get how the blind can be so amazing at the guitar. The guitar was hard enough for me to learn WITH eyesight. The Jose Felicianos, & Jeff Healies, & Doc Watsons of this world should remind those of us that have our sight to treasure it & protect it.
@@mrmusic248 It's said that blind people have an enhanced sense of feel, so that might help, but I've also heard Doc learned music as a child to be useful since he couldn't help with chores growing up, and that he virtually always had a guitar in his hands, so I think he practiced more than the average musician.
T Michael told me that when they set up for this show he and Paul were not to be on camera but in the wings. Just before they they were to begin while still in commercial Johnny Carson came over and questioned why so. He then said oh no you guys should be on camera. You know your Mother would like to see you on The Tonight Show. And so they were.
Doc was good when playing lead, but he was also good when playing backup - I love the little riffs he uses when backing up Chet - his clear noting with the flatpick is a very nice counter-point to Chet's finger picking - 2 great musicians, may they RIP.
I would love to have seen Johnny's face when they mentioned him in reference to going to Canaan's Land.... !!! Tough road for an unrepentant Jew... :-)
@@leaddispenser9 Yes, he did. He was a great part of Dolly’ career in her beginning. Salvation is an individual choice. For him during the song he was on his way, no matter who wasn’t coming along. Pretty sure Dolly’s made her salvation very public.
Not so much a contest, but the fact that Chet Atkins wasn't a flat-picker. I'm sure he could have mastered it if he had devoted the time and energy to it, but that wasn't his normal bag, his normal repertoire. Maybe that's why he enjoyed partnering with Doc for a while... who knows? To get a taste of something outside of what he normally played.
@@merlynschutterle7242 - Yes, he could do that, but with nowhere near the fluency of a seasoned flat-picker. The guy who really blasts off into orbit using the technique you mention is the phenomenal Scotty Anderson, the all-time great player who numbers Chet as one of his influences.
Two absolute giants of guitar and two absolute gentlemen. Two different styles but complimentary nonetheless. Great to see this.
These boys always crush it. Every time, ever where. It never gets old.
I'm so grateful for technology and RUclips. As an Aussie who was born in the 80s . I probably would have never seen nor heard of 90% of the musicians I have known. So glad I got to see and hear some of Docs songs and videos. ❤
These are NATIONAL TREASURES! I pray these men will never be forgotten!
I remember watching this Soul Train episode back in '73.
Two of the best ever. They didn't need fancy pedal boards and walls of effects. They just played with awesome prowess
Two of my fav
Chet, is so beautifully melodic, and Doc is so raw and gritty. Love it. :)
It doesn't get any better than this
Never gets better than this. Wow. Really.
Best talent the tonight show has ever had.
If you can find it for sale someplace, their 1980 duo LP for RCA, "Reflections," is well-worth picking up. It has the much the same down-home feeling this performance has. Great playing, storytelling, joking around, you name it, those guys had it covered!
Yes!
Very good album!
Doc is one of those musicians that I'm just so happy to have seen... I don't really care too much about any musician's star power but I will say that I felt I was closer to God on the days/evenings that i spent going to see Doc play... i don't consider myself super religious but his shows were spiritual events for me...
Judson Clayto I couldn't agree more. I always felt cleansed and refreshed after seeing him. He radiated goodness.
Judson Clayto I know exactly what you mean I felt that way too when I seen him.
It was one of the musical highlights of my life to be able to see Doc Watson live in person twice, both times at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, IL. The man was an absolute virtuoso on pretty much any instrument he picked up, and a wonderful storyteller, humorist and singer, too. I miss him and Merle something terrible. I sure am glad for their recordings! I was fortunate-enough to see Chet live, too, and although I had long-known of his prowess on guitar, I didn't realize until that show how well-rounded a performer he was. Singing, story-telling, humor, you name it - all delivered with that unique charm of his.
Judson Clayto: This doctor brings good medicine for the soul.
I heard once that Leo Kottke was put on Earth to remind the rest of us that we can't play guitar.
I would say the same about these two.
I always loved music and try to play guitar, but when I accidentally ran across Doc, Merle, and T. Michael Coleman in Knoxville at the Tivoli theater life changed. Thanks Mr. Watson, you've been a true inspiration.
Whether it was Chet Atkins, Earl Scruggs or some select others, the greatest pickers knew, when they really wanted to shine yet still have fun, they called in Doc Watson!
They can really get down and play ❤love it. They influenced me as a kid to play and still do it everyday and love it
real 240 carat gold.Keep playing this music and keep it alive
Two classics
Thanks for posting this, Stacy.
Damn Doc is like a machine! Chet can’t believe what he’s seeing 😂
@ Brandon Johnson - Re: "Damn Doc is like a machine!"
Want an idea how great Doc Watson really was? I'm sixty-one now, an old guy - so I've been around a long time and heard a lot of musicians, good, bad, great and everything in between. And in my many decades of listening to and playing music myself, I have never run into anyone who can match Doc's prowess as a flat-picker specifically, or an old-time country musician generally. The guy was just a virtuoso on pretty much any instrument he picked up. Singer, storyteller, humorist, you name it, he could do it.
The late Tony Rice, himself one of the finest flat-pickers ever to live, played Doc's tunes, but never sounded as good on them as Doc did. Watson's rock-solid time-keeping, perfect pitch and other musicianship was so respected that he did seminars for college-level music schools - even though he had no formal training whatsoever. Don't get me wrong: Tony Rice was in every way an all-time great; it is just that there was only one Doc Watson.
Doc was also a fabulous fingerstyle player, a skill he displayed on many of his recordings. His style was modeled less on Chet and more on Merle Travis - for whom Doc's late son Merle was named - but he sounded great that way, too.
I think Doc was one of those guys who could have played pretty much any style he wanted. The two times I saw him live, he and his accompanists played old-time country and mountain music, sure, but also blues, jazz, rags and even a couple of classical-influenced numbers.
Wow! Love that this video exists. Amazing couple of gentlemen, I must say it's a pleasure to get to watch them pick side by side.
I think it was Jeff Beck who said to his rock guitarist friends " If those Country Guitarist's ever left Nashville , we'd be out of a job " .
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix both admitted that rock guitarist had nothing on the country guys. It’s only the braindead fans that say otherwise.
Doc has eyes now hes in Heaven.
Had the pleasure & privilege to meet and know Doc, visited at home in Deep Gap, NC, lovely guy and great picker. He once told me '....If I could play like Chet, I'd be a happy man.' I always reckoned his wife, Rosa Lee, bought his shirts. I think the proof is here.
A match. Made. In Heaven.
Perfection
Inspired me when I was a boy....Inspires me today. Dang, that's clean!
Doc and Chet, what's not to love???
August 2023 ❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻🇨🇦
Best ad lib hype man. Ever. Every time he gives out a come on or alright i pop
Thos world today needs more of this.
Really great!!! I must say I want everyone to go to Canaan’s Land though! 😃
Damn I miss those days!
This is our version of Bach, nothing less.
There's more ideas in 3 minutes of any Bach piece than in all the discography of Doc Watson
Chet Atkins and Doc Watson took a back seat to no one and this video shows it !
I just saw Chet sweep, in 1980!
Did so long before this, in the fifties.
Miss both of these gentlemen tremendously. Great flat picking and thumb picking. Chet was sweep picking when most shredders were in diapers.
Joe B.:
True !
I think you need to go back a couple of generations, Chet was sweep picking when I was in diapers(I'm 65).
I don't really get how sighted people can play like Chet, and I REALLY don't get how the blind can be so amazing at the guitar.
The guitar was hard enough for me to learn WITH eyesight.
The Jose Felicianos, & Jeff Healies, & Doc Watsons of this world should remind those of us that have our sight to treasure it & protect it.
Those sweeps was the bomb ... Metalocalypse ain't got nothing on Chet!! WTF is a DragonForce? That's what you call, the real Slim Shady!
sweeping with the thumb like that is amazing, do you think the technique is adjusted to be more mute centric on the left hand instead?
@@mrmusic248 It's said that blind people have an enhanced sense of feel, so that might help, but I've also heard Doc learned music as a child to be useful since he couldn't help with chores growing up, and that he virtually always had a guitar in his hands, so I think he practiced more than the average musician.
You couldn't hang on till they got their last lick in??? Outstanding performances by Doc and Chet.
Love that old time pickin.
If it wasn’t for Doc Billy Strings wouldn’t have ever picked up a guitar I’m glad he did
Interesting placement of accompanists. Doc's bass man T. Michael Coleman is next to Chet and Chet's 2nd guitar Paul Yandell is next Doc.
T Michael told me that when they set up for this show he and Paul were not to be on camera but in the wings. Just before they they were to begin while still in commercial Johnny Carson came over and questioned why so. He then said oh no you guys should be on camera. You know your Mother would like to see you on The Tonight Show. And so they were.
Very interesting
Thanks so much Stacy for posting videos of Doc. How did you get this tape? Did you record it yourself from the broadcast?
No it was given to me by Doc's brother David. I never knew about this performence untill then. Probably in the 90's.
Preach it good buddy
b e a utiful
Sweep it Chet!! Whoop whoop!!
These guys are old but they sure play!
Thats the stuff!
Paul Yandell on the far right could pretty much play anything Chet could.
Two of the Best. Doc owned East Tennessee Rag 😁
THE DOCTOR took "shit" from NO ONE...........! Hahahahahahah He was a marvel. R.I.P.
Old doc influenced so many pickers. That they lost count long time ago and I'm one ofem,,
Wow. What dynamite musicianship.
Guitar pickin at its very best!
Doc's flatpicking can be overheard above Chet and that's fine with me.
Doc was good when playing lead, but he was also good when playing backup - I love the little riffs he uses when backing up Chet - his clear noting with the flatpick is a very nice counter-point to Chet's finger picking - 2 great musicians, may they RIP.
I think it was Bob Dylan who, when Doc died, said something like "he could play guitar like running water"
I of course taught them ol boyz all that 😳😳😳😳😳😳
Sweeping there
2:02
👍
now that is finger pickin!
Doc sure impressed Chet ..
trust me Doc Loved Chet as well!!!
Doc Watson, master finger picker and flat picker, nobody comes close to that man.
☮️🇺🇦
🌙🪐✨🌠
💥
I would love to have seen Johnny's face when they mentioned him in reference to going to Canaan's Land.... !!! Tough road for an unrepentant Jew... :-)
Johnny Carson a Jew? No way. He was friends with a lot of Jews, but no he was raised a Methodist as a child, but was more an agnostic in his beliefs.
But he did say dolly!!
@@leaddispenser9 Yes, he did. He was a great part of Dolly’ career in her beginning. Salvation is an individual choice. For him during the song he was on his way, no matter who wasn’t coming along. Pretty sure Dolly’s made her salvation very public.
Only an evil person would've cut that last snippet of the song. Totally unnecessary. I doubt, very seriously if it was Stacy.
I think Chet lost this contest. It was not the right kind of tune for him.
bull!! chet can easily play bluegrass...He purposely played completely a different style to prop up..showcase Doc...Chet was a master at this...!!
Not so much a contest, but the fact that Chet Atkins wasn't a flat-picker. I'm sure he could have mastered it if he had devoted the time and energy to it, but that wasn't his normal bag, his normal repertoire. Maybe that's why he enjoyed partnering with Doc for a while... who knows? To get a taste of something outside of what he normally played.
@@GeorgiaBoy1961 Actually, Chet did sort of flat pick with his thumb pick. He was one of the very few who could do an upstroke with a thumb pick.
@@merlynschutterle7242 - Yes, he could do that, but with nowhere near the fluency of a seasoned flat-picker. The guy who really blasts off into orbit using the technique you mention is the phenomenal Scotty Anderson, the all-time great player who numbers Chet as one of his influences.
There's no contest here...only frustrated people consider music as a competition
Wow!
Wow. What dynamite musicianship.