Music tributes are usually Kestrel’s territory; but blind Bluegrass teller-of tales Doc Watson, who died today at 89, was special to my family.  

My husband introduced me gently to his inclination toward old time country music when he wooed me to the strains of Watson’s “Frog Went a-Courtin’ ” forty years ago.  He’d been a huge fan since the 60’s.  To this day, we probably have more Doc Watson CD’s in the car, on the counter and in the bookcase, than those of any other artist.

We are fortunate to have seen Doc perform in a tiny theater in Evanston, Illinois, late in the 1970’s, with his son Merle who pre-deceased him in 1985.   Then, when our own son was a young teenager, we took him to see the legendary folk singer perform in Burlington; this time with his grandson, Richard.

‘Sure wish we could do that again.