Thank You for the Music, Doc

Thank you for the music, Doc. For putting so much goodness into each song you sang. For all the performances you gave, and the hearts you touched with your voice and your guitar. For all the records you made, and all the painstaking care you took to make them.

Thank you, Doc for teaching people all around the world about the beauty of the music in those North Carolina hills. And for showing them the old songs, the ones that might have slipped away if you hadn't sung them. And thank you to Rosalee and to Nancy and to Richard and to all your kin who were so kind to share you with us all those years. American song is forever richer for you, Doc.

As long as there are flatpicked guitars, old folk-songs and folks to sing 'em, we will remember you kindly and we will miss you dearly.

Ketch Secor is founding member of Old Crow Medicine Show. He plays fiddle, sings and writes songs. One day, many years ago before they had record deal or management, the band was busking outside a pharmacy called Boone Drug in Boone, NC, where they impressed the legendary Doc Watson who invited the band to participate in his annual MerleFest.