It was a rainy, cold night in Carolina, but over 500 people showed up at the Walker Center in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. This was the annual, “thank you event,” for volunteers that help at the Wilkes Community College. Everyone ate their meal and waited – they listened to the speakers and waited – and finally it happened. The speaker thanked Doc Watson for his volunteer work at the college and then they let him loose.

Doc announced from the beginning that he was going to take longer than they told him he could have – and the crowd was in complete agreement. From the minute Doc got his guitar strapped on until the last chord was strummed there was magic. A magic that cannot be equaled. This soft-spoken man from the mountains of North Carolina held the audience captive. No flash, no glitz or glitter – but a sincerity that is rare in the music arena today. His diversity, which swung from blues, to folk and ended with gospel, was rich and pure. His stories – born of experiences from the past rang true. This mountain man, blind since age one, sees with his soul. He senses what the audience wants and plays and sings to meet their needs.

As the meeting comes to a close and Doc’s helpers put away his guitar. The soft melodies still linger in everyone’s heads and they leave – looking forward to the next time they hear this legend play again.