We have word that Doc Watson is home and recovering nicely from his recent surgery.

In spite of a slight problem on the way home that caused a return to the hospital, Doc arrived at home last night and is healing up nicely. At 85 years old, the legendary guitar picker is quite strong and his doctors expect a quick return to health.

Thank you to everyone who sent cards and letters, they have been forwarded to Doc and I’m sure he’ll enjoy being able to look through them at his leisure as he recuperates.

Bluegrass and folk music icon Doc Watson is undergoing micro-surgery today at Duke Hospital in Durham, NC.

Doc is a beloved fixture of this music and his doctors feel his health is very good for his advanced age of 85. Please remember him in your prayers and picking today as he has this surgery.

Jack Lawrence gives us the details.

There is a very small spot in the center lobe of his right lung that will be removed. It has not spread so the prognosis is very good and no radiation or chemo will be required. The micro-surgery is much less invasive than the standard procedure so he should be out of the hospital about three days afer the procedure. He’s in good spirits, but understandably ready to have it over. His GP told the surgeons that he had an 85 year old man with the body of a 50 year old that needed surgery. Of course, Doc loved that! The surgeons agreed and decided that Doc would come through this just fine.

If anyone wishes to send Doc a card or letter of encouragement, please send them to us at the following address and we will forward them to Doc.

The Bluegrass Blog
P.O. Box 1069
Pulaski, VA 24301

Last Friday, June 13, the Blue Ridge Music Hall of Fame held a ceremony inducting its charter members. The ceremony took place at the Walker Center on the campus of Wilkes Community College, the home of Merlefest.

The Hall of Fame is located on the second floor of the Wilkes Heritage Museum, housed in a turn of the century (1902) historical courthouse. The exhibit actually opened on May 29, featuring instruments, biographies, and historical recordings. Intending to include both famous musicians, as well as those who have worked behind the scenes to make the music possible, from a geographic area ranging from northern Georgia into northern Virginia, the Hall of Fame inducted the following persons.

• Doc Watson
• Dolly Parton
• Wayne Henderson
• David Johnson (a studio musician and performer from Wilkes County)
• Earl Scruggs

Deceased inductees:

• The Carter Family
• Ralph Epperson (the founder of radio station WPAQ in Mount Airy)
• Tommy Jarrell (an influential banjo player and fiddler from Surry County)
• Folklorist Ralph Rinzler of the Smithsonian Institution
• Sam Love Queen Sr. (known as the Square Dance King of Western North Carolina)

You can see photos and short bios of each inductee at this link.

Art Menius, a longtime fixture at MerleFest and now director of Appalshop, a nonprofit group in Whitesburg, Ky., that documents and celebrates the culture of Appalachia, will be an honorary inductee. He did much of the preliminary work for the hall of fame.

Art is an active member of the online bluegrass community and we congratulate him on this well deserved honor.

Ten years ago a CD was released that was probably the very first mashup to feature bluegrass music (mashed with some groovy funk). The CD was GrooveGrass 101, produced by Scott Rouse.

This week Warner Brothers released the CD on iTunes for the first time and I’m told it’s selling quite well.

The CD features bluegrass legend Doc Watson together with Bootsy Collins on Wabash Cannonball and Blue Moon of Kentucky. Other stars making appearances include Mac Wiseman, Jerry Douglas, Ronnie and Rob McCoury, Jason Carter, Mike Bub, Bernie Leden (from the Eagles), and many more. Flatpicking master Steve Kaufman rips off some great solos on Little Cabin Home on the Hill mixed up with all the groovy stuff.

If you’ve never heard GrooveGrass 101, do yourself a favor and go give it a listen on iTunes.