89-year-old music veteran Doc Watson is currently in critical condition. The musician, who is famous for his flatpicking style on the guitar, is hospitalized at Winston-Salem's Baptist Medical Center in his hometown of North Carolina.
Watson's daughter, Nancy, explained in a telephone interview that Watson fell at his home in Deep Gap on Monday, May 21. She said the folk musician has no broken bones but that he's "real sick." His manager Mitchell Greenhill said, "We're just hoping he gets well soon."
According to North Carolina newspaper Watauga Democrat, Doc was seeking treatment for an infection. He was initially admitted to Watauga Medical Center, but was transferred to the Baptist Medical Center on Thursday.
Doc was blinded by an eye infection shortly after birth, but his eyesight limitations didn't prevent him from making good music and influencing a lot of musicians with his groundbreaking style. He won seven Grammy Awards and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement honor in 2004.
In April this year, he performed at MerleFest 25 in Wilkesboro in memory of his son Merle who died in 1985. "With the good Lord's will, I'm 89 years old and I'm pretty healthy," he told the crowd.
Following news of his hospitalization, MerleFest director Ted Hagaman said in a statement, "On behalf of MerleFest, we certainly hope he'll be feeling better very soon."
source: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00050885.html
