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American folk musician, Doc Watson, died on Tuesday (May 29) at a North Carolina hospital aged 89. Watson had been in criticial condition for days, following a fall at his home in the Blue Ridge Mountains last week.

Doc Watson was one of the most important artists in traditional American folk music, inspiring generations of listeners with his lightning-fast flatpicking guitar style.

Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson was born on March 3, 1923 in Deep Gap, North Carolina. He was blind from the age of one, after an eye infection worsened an existing disorder. The young Watson was a natural musician, taking up harmonica, banjo and guitar as a child. It would be years before he began to make a living making music though. In 1953, at the age of 30, he began playing electric guitar in the Jack Williams’ country-and-western swing band, but he wouldn’t get a solo recording contract until 1964 after being spotted playing at the Newport Folk Festival.

Over the next five decades, Watson would record 60 albums, including seven that won Grammy awards. He also started an annual music festival in 1987 called Merlefest, in honour of his son Merle who died in a tractor accident in 1985.

Doc Watson received the National Medal of the Arts from President Bill Clinton in 1997, and a lifetime achievement Grammy award in 2004.

North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue has paid tribute to Doc Watson:

Here’s some great performances from Doc Watson.

“Sitting on Top of the World” – Doc Watson

“Deep River Blues” – Doc Watson

“Roll in My Sweet Baby’s Arms” – Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs & Earl Scruggs

The last video was from the “Three Pickers” concert that Watson gave with Ricky Skaggs and Earl Scruggs in 2003. Skaggs paid tribute to Watson on hearing of his death on Tuesday:

Watson is survived by his wife, Rosa Lee; their daughter, Nancy Ellen; his grandchildren, Richard and Karen; his brother, David, and several great-grandchildren.