Grammy Award winning Folk legend Doc Watson passed away at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
The blind singer and guitarist passed away at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in
Watson was taken to a medical center near his Deep Gap, NC, home last Monday and then airlifted Wake Forest's intensive care unit on Thursday, where underwent surgery on his colon.
Despite being in critical condition for days and showing signs of improvement late last week, Watson succumbed to his injuries at 7:21pm.
The bluegrass pioneer, born Arthel Lane Watson, is partially credited with taking the acoustic guitar from its origins as a rhythm instrument to being more of a lead instrument in bluegrass and country music during the 1950s and 60s. His Flatkiping style also helped change the instrument's role in folk, blues and gospel music.
The seven-time Grammy winner was born in Deep Gap,
He formed a successful trio, releasing 15 albums with his son Merle and bassist T. Michael Coleman; but the venture ended in 1985 when Merle was killed in a tractor accident.
North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue released a statement on Tuesday; saying, "Over his long and brilliant career, Doc Watson traveled the world playing the music he loved, but his heart never strayed far from his home in Deep Gap,
"Our state was fortunate to have such a worldwide ambassador of
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