Mel Bay presents The Legacy of Doc Watson [Spiral-bound]

Steve Kaufman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1999

The first authorized compilation of Doc Watson's life and music is meant to serve not only as a biography, but also as a unique instructional book. A running dialogue with Doc reveals the story behind each tune, while Steve Kaufman provides additional performance tips. Here's your opportunity to learn from the best! The obvious rapport between the author and his subject produced a formula that fittingly captures the 50-year legacy of a remarkable musician. Written in notation and tablature for the intermediate level flatpicking guitarist with a few nods to fingerstyle technique. Includes an insightful illustrated essay by Dan Miller of Flatpicking Guitar Magazine.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Steve Kaufman was born April 20, 1957 in New York City. He was introduced to music by his father, a jazz pianist, and his mother, a classically trained pianist. At the age of four, Steve started to play the piano and later moved on to the cello. At 10 he began playing the guitar, but after a few years of strumming, he put the guitar under the bed. At 14, Steve started "picking" the guitar and he has not put it down since. Steve is the only three time winner of the prestigious National Flatpicking Championships held in Winfield, Kansas. His music covers a broad range of styles. He is an extremely versatile performer and his performances are highlighted by his blazing technic and humor. Here is what some of the great flatpickers and bluegrass musicians have to say about him: Steve Kaufman is great; the boy can pick. He knows what good music is. -- Doc Watson

Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 152 pages
• Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078663393X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786633937
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,152,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Doc Tab by the master, Steve Kaufman, July 16, 2000

By 

Eddie Finn - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mel Bay presents The Legacy of Doc Watson (Spiral-bound)

This book is of primary interest to flatpickers, all of whom owe Doc Watson a debt of gratitude for developing the style and to Steve Kaufman for popularizing it by making it playable for the 'average Joe' like me. Lots of tab here, but of equal interest is the dialogue between Steve and Doc and an excellent introduction by Flatpicking Guitar Magazine editor Dan Miller.

FYI - Here's a list of tabbed songs: Black Mountain Rag - Blackberry Rag - Blue Ridge Mountain Blues - Carroll County Blues - Doc's Guitar - Doc's Rag - Don't Let Your Deal Go Down - Down Yonder - Fisher's Hornpipe - Freight Train Blues - I Am a Pilgrim - I Heard My Mother Weeping - New River Train - Rising Sun - Roll On Buddy - Salt Creek / Bill Cheatham - Sheeps In the Meadow / Stoney Fork - Sittin' Here Pickin' the Blues - Texas Gales - Tom Dooley - Will the Circle Be Unbroken

My only criticism - Books like this, which we try to read while holding a guitar, should be spiral-bound so that they lay flat. This one isn't and doesn't.