
Watson
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Willie Watson (Photo: Facebook) |
By Walter Price
So for no other reason but to calm my wondering mind, here are some of the best artists with the name Watson in the country, folk and traditional genres.
Go on, this is interesting stuff here.
(In no particular order)
Gene Watson (Palestine, TX)
Charting over 70 times with 23 top 10’s and 6 #1’s, Gene stayed on the right side of the line between authentic country music and pop flavored ‘country’ that was starting to creep into Nashville in the late 70’s and a phenomenon that completely suffocated traditional country music in the 1980’s. Creating a foe-country sound we can still hear today. Gene never wavered and is still keeping the sounds real to this day…
Willie Watson (Watkins Glen, NY)
Formerly of the killer string band revivalists Old Crow Medicine Show, Willie Watson is out on his own with a collection of traditional and sometimes rare folk tunes with his newly released Folk Singer Vol. 1. And he pretty much kills with his interpretations of “Rock Salt and Nails”, “Midnight Special” and “Keep It Clean”.
Arthel “Doc” Watson (Deep Gap, NC) 1923 – 2012
A true finger-pickin’ troubadour in every aspect. Folk, gospel, bluegrass, blues and country genres found spots in Doc’s impressive repertoire. You’ll find his influence in artists from Ricky Skaggs, Sam Bush to Old Crow Medicine Show (Legend has it Doc discovered OCMS playing outside a pharmacy in North Carolina). Long live Doc Watson’s legacy!
You know what happens when you stylistically run the musical gamut? Sure, you get compared to everyone from Nick Drake to Jeff Buckley. Not bad but does little to the actual coolness your standalone voice carries or does it. Some say a master of reinvention, I say master of exploration…Let the people decide!
Aaron Watson (Amarillo, TX)
The “Honky Tonk Kid” is doing his best to keep country music grounded in tradition à la George Jones and Alan Jackson. Aaron is the Texas indie-music superstar whose love of God, family and country makes him the go-to artist when you want and need to scoot-a boot. Dig It!
Dale Watson (Birmingham, AL)
Austin based singer- songwriter, author, activist and an authentic honky-tonkin’ Lone Star lone-wolf who discovered long ago there is something wrong with the Nashville machine. Has made a point on doing it his way or not at all. He is internationally known to country up a microphone and has garnered critical praise and a die-hard fan-base across almost every-land. Sing us some more truckin’ songs Dale!