Doc Watson, a 7-time Grammy Award winner, lived in Deep Gap, NC, and was a frequent visitor to Boone and the Jones House during his lifetime. A musical legend, Doc inspired generations of musicians during his lifetime with his flat-picking style. Blind since childhood, Doc wished to be remembered first as a member of the community, a husband, a father, and a grandfather.
On Friday, June 24, 2011, a life-sized bronze statue of Doc, designed by Alex Hallmark, was unveiled in downtown Boone, on the corner of W. King St. and N. Depot St. When asked about the idea of a statue of his likeness being installed in downtown Boone, Doc said it would be okay, as long as a plaque accompanied it, reading, “Just one of the people.”
On the day the statue was unveiled, the Town of Boone and then-Mayor Loretta Clawson decreed that Doc Watson Day would be an annual town celebration. Ever since that day, Boone and the Jones House have celebrated his memory and influence with a free concert on the Jones House lawn on Doc Watson Day.
Doc with his statue. Photo by Tom Fotta Jr.
By Harrison Keely - Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148059238