Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson

I'm a monster Doc Watson fan. Watson stands as the king flatpicker of all time and his ability to tear through fiddle melodies with stunning speed, precision and timbre has awed, inspired and influenced generations of guitarist I'm a monster Doc Watson fan. Watson stands as the king flatpicker of all time and his ability to tear through fiddle melodies with stunning speed, precision and timbre has awed, inspired and influenced generations of guitarists.

Any time I approach a biography of a musician or band I love, the anticipation is there.

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I always look forward to putting on the records and reading the story. This time, unfortunately, the story didn't live up to the soundtrack. Gustavson's writing is clumsy. One of his glaring hangups is that he restates every quote, seemingly in an effort to drive home the point the speaker is making. This restating of the speaker's words is tedious and gives the whole thing the feel of being aimed at younger readers. There is also a lot of what I'd call foreshadowing, for lack of a better term.

There is also a strong need for some editing. Gustavson starts at the beginning and ends near the end, but everything in between is like a collage. He'll talk about Watson's first recording sessions, move on to some other stuff, start talking about his first solo LP then he's back to the first sessions. There is only the barest hint of a timeline here.

The chapters are more thematic than chronological.

The result is a kind of constant, steady confusion as to where and when the action is taking place. There is also the endless repetition. Facts, ideas, stories, concepts, etc. If overstatement were wealth, this book would be a millionaire.

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Ultimately, my excitement about reading this book turned into excitement to be done with it. This was clearly a labor of love for Gustavson but it comes off as rambling and unfinished. It's interesting for its topic but, in the end, it's a tedious grind. Apr 14, M. For my full review, visit my blog at www. As the title indicates, this book is a biography of Doc Watson's life.

From his humble beginnings, through his years as a musician, and ending with the impact he had on the many lives of others who knew him or heard his music. In between the stories shared are sketches of Doc along with photographs illustrating his life and c For my full review, visit my blog at www. In between the stories shared are sketches of Doc along with photographs illustrating his life and certain situations he encountered; from family portraits to stage performances. When receiving this book, I was anxious to begin reading the story of Doc Watson. From the synopsis on the back cover I knew this was going to be an inspiring story about a man who beat some incredible odds to reach the heights he did through his guitar playing.

I wasn't disappointed as I read through the book. Each chapter shared a certain aspect of Doc Watson's life, along with a great life lesson - something Doc learned along the way. Lessons we all could learn and use in our own life. Not only was the book a delightful read, it also peaked my interest about Doc Watson's music and I found myself searching the web for videos of him playing the tunes mentioned in the book.

Below my review are two such videos I found. I can now truthfully say I am a fan of Doc Watson and his guitar flatpicking. And to think, I didn't even know what flatpicking was when I first received the book.

I received this book free from the publisher Sumach Red Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. A seemingly well-researched but poorly written biography of a true American treasure. I'm in no position to judge the accuracy of the history presented here but, given that it's based largely on quotes from sources who know Doc personally, it's probably reasonably close to the facts.

However, the book is marred throughout by a seriously flawed writing style and poor editing. An example - Gustavson uses variations of the hook, "little did he know Of course, there is nothing in the book to establish any particular skill at foretelling the future. It's simply a juvenile attempt to connect threads throughout the narrative. Here's a hint - it's a biography. There's already a thread to connect the dots. Much of the information about Doc's background was new to me and that made it worth the effort to wade through the frustrating writing style. The book pales in comparison to the fabulous Tony Rice biography by Stafford and Wright, at least in terms of general readability and entertainment.

It's too bad - Doc is a giant of American music and deserves a better presentation of his remarkable life story. Kent Gustavson must have talked to hundreds of people to write this thorough biography of arguably the world's greatest guitar player. Doc Watson was the real deal, and he played acoustic guitar in a way that few people can. Gustavson shows the role that musician and folk scholar Ralph Rinzler played in the Doc's rise from obscurity and poverty in rural North Carolina to fame among his loving fans.

The story makes clear the Watson labored in poverty for decades and that playing on the road took Kent Gustavson must have talked to hundreds of people to write this thorough biography of arguably the world's greatest guitar player. The story makes clear the Watson labored in poverty for decades and that playing on the road took so much out of him. With his son Merle, he toured the country, and continued with a broken heart after Merle's accidental death at the age of Watson passed away earlier this year from ihjuries suffered during a fall.

I remember long hours trying to play guitar as smoothly and cleanly as he could. I finally gave it up: But it was for Doc and his legacy is for people who love music and excellence however it come. It also sorta ends ten years ago although the interviews are recent - giving us not much a feeling for what Doc Watson recently, and Doc does still do some shows outside of Merlefest. However this might not be the author's fault, as Doc has become more private as mentioned. I confess that I'm also lot more sympathetic to Ralph Rinzler's wa "I liked it" - but it needed editing.

I confess that I'm also lot more sympathetic to Ralph Rinzler's way of getting Doc in the music business as a trad performer than the author is. The author also probably tells more of Merle's problems that the family would have liked him too. On the other hand, "I liked it" - he did a lot of research and interviews, and the book tells the life story of Doc Watson. It gives a good feeling about what other musicians think of Doc and his influence on musicians. I liked this book a great deal, but more because I was interested in the subject matter than due to the writing style. Not bad, but the writing certainly could have been more polished.

But it did appear to be well researched, and for anyone with an interest in American roots music, traditional mountain music, or whatever else it might be called, it is an important book. Doc Watson was probably the most important figure in this style of music. At times the book does drag, but over all it kept my I liked this book a great deal, but more because I was interested in the subject matter than due to the writing style.

At times the book does drag, but over all it kept my interest and it is certainly worth reading for anyone interested in the history of traditional American music. Mar 28, Kaj Samuelsson rated it it was amazing. I was recommended to read this book, by my wife a few years ago, but I thought that a biography about a musician cannot be very interesting, so I didn't read it then. Now I got it as an E-book and thought maybe I can at least give it a try. From the moment I started I got fascinated by the life of Doc Watson, he was not only a great musician, he was a great person, period!

It also introduced me to other musicians I never heard of and as I love music I started to listen to them too. For me it was I was recommended to read this book, by my wife a few years ago, but I thought that a biography about a musician cannot be very interesting, so I didn't read it then. For me it was a musical discovery, though no one beats Doc in his playing.

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I sure enjoyed this book and I recommend it to anyone interested in music and biographies. An amazing, persona, and insightful journey into the life of master musician Doc Watson. From growing up blind in rural Appalachia to being swept into the folk revival, Gustavson ably invites us to see what life was like in becoming the remarkable Doc Watson. Watson's professional career with his son Merle and after Merle's death is the high part of an arc that descends into reclusion as an elder statesman of flatpicking with annual appearances at MerleFest and, almost mercifully, this work ends An amazing, persona, and insightful journey into the life of master musician Doc Watson.

Watson's professional career with his son Merle and after Merle's death is the high part of an arc that descends into reclusion as an elder statesman of flatpicking with annual appearances at MerleFest and, almost mercifully, this work ends just prior to Watson's May, death. Hear my conversation with the author: Sunday, February 17, Nov 19, Ava Abbott rated it it was amazing. Heart warming, inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking biography.

I had a hard time putting this one down. Doc was everything like I pictured him and more. This book did repeat things a lot but the subject is good enough to keep it from being annoying.

The first part of this book was my favorite, his life in the mountains growing up, meeting his wife. The loss of his son, Merle is a sad story, sometimes I felt the way the theories of his death were handled were a little insensiti Heart warming, inspiring and sometimes heartbreaking biography.

The loss of his son, Merle is a sad story, sometimes I felt the way the theories of his death were handled were a little insensitive. If you like Doc Watson and his music, you will love him after this book. Nice to read about a musician who isn't the typical story of women, drugs and rock n roll. Doc and Merle were always close. When Merle decided to play guitar and eventually tour with his father, they were inseparable for 20 years. Toward the end, Merle started disappearing for days, dealing with substance abuse and his own personal and musical identity.

He crashed his blue tractor in a fatal accident. According to Gustavson, Doc never healed from the loss of his son, even into his eighties.

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