In 1964 at 15 years old Eddy Merle Watson decided what he wanted to do. He wanted to play the guitar. His mom taught him some chords, and in June he would accompany his dad to concerts and join him on stage. In November, he recorded his first album, Doc Watson and Son. Merle would perform and record with his dad for the rest of his life. Merle tragically passed away on October 22, 1985, in a tractor accident.
Merlefest, Avett Bros and Traditonal Plus
In October 1987 Wilkes Community College decided to have a concert in November to raise money for several campus gardens including one for the blind. Doc Watson agreed to play, but it was decreed that there was not enough time to organise the concert so that the date was changed to April 1988. Doc had just asked that the garden for the blind named after his son Merle. It would be called the Eddy Merle Watson Garden for the Senses. So many artists agreed to play that it was changed to a two-day festival and was named the Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival. It was held on April 30 and May 1. They sold out the Walker Center and at the advice of Cliff Miller who was the sound guy they added an outside stage at what is now knows a the Watson Stage. Doc’s wife Rosa Lee suggested they have a workshop so the artist can talk about their instruments and musical ideas, which was held at Mayes Pit-Cohn Auditorium. This one night concert had turned into a two festival with 3 venues.
It would become an annual festival and become a 4 day one in 1991. In 1992 Bob Crawford would make the trip down from New Jersey to attend the festival. He would also attend 1993 and 1994, and in 1995 the name of the festival would be changed from the Eddy Merle Watson Memorial Festival to Merlefest. Kay Couch of the band Strictly Clean and Decent, referred to the festival as Merlefest and the Watson Family was asked if they would like to change the name and they agreed. Scott would see Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in 1998 Merlefest which would help inspire him to keep going down the path of playing acoustic music along with another band that had a significant impact on the Avett Brother, The Blue Rags. Bill Reynolds was the bass player in the Blue Rags who would also go on to play in Band of Horses and co-produce Emotionalism.
“I remember seeing this band, The Blue Rags, and they were young, and they were playing ragtime and bluegrass with such energy” - Scott Avett
Tony Rice Jam at 1988 Merle Watson Festival
October 20th 1985 in Atlanta Georgia at the Moonshadow Saloon. The last song Doc and Merle played together on stage
"And Cupid's arrow is backwards and bent
When it's flying for me" - Black, Blue