my supper with Doc…

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• DancinDave

  Participant

  January 6, 2015 at 10:41 pm

  Post count: 1

  #304

  I posted this story in the old Merlefest Forum, and it definitely can be told again:

  I became friends with Jack Lawrence soon after Merle had hired Jack to take his place on the road with Doc in the early 80s. Merle had grown tired of the road at that point… So, Jack and I would always get together for visits whenever I was able to attend their concerts. During the 1998 Merlefest Jack told me that he and Doc were playing a gig in Madison, Wisconsin on the next weekend…and I informed him that I knew and that I already had tickets, so I’d see him then.
  It was during the ride home to Wisconsin that year that I came up with the idea for “Dancin’Dave’sFestivalCamping”. I had no business experience of any kind at that time, but had heard of “write-offs”. >g< I called Jack during the week to see if he and Doc would like to get together before the gig for supper and that was arranged; my wife and I and another friend (Maple Al) would meet Jack and Doc during their sound check and then walk a block or two to a cool restaurant. And I had visions of my first business write-off being treating Doc Watson to a meal! During the meal Doc was more than gracious of course. I had to ask him...I had heard that he had wired his house and wondered how that was possible. (I had had to put in a simple plug-in in what became my office and had had a heck of a time doing this!) He responded: "well for one thing, David, you can do anything you put your mind to, and for another thing, back then the positive wire was smooth and the negative wire was rough..." He told us that the last thing that he could remember seeing was the white sheets that his mother would hang on the line to dry. He also managed to straighten out my manners...when the waitress looked at me and asked if we were ready to order I nodded and replied, "Doc?" He responded with, "now don't you think the lady should order first, David?" Lynn just smiled...although to this day she will admit: "BUT...this was Doc Watson!" >g< Lynn also had a bit of a problem all week; she wanted to request a song from Doc and couldn't decide which one. After the meal she and I and Doc were standing outside and I could tell that she was going to be too shy to ask. During our conversation I mentioned to Doc that when I first started courting Lynn I would sing to her, "She's My Curly-Headed Baby". Doc replied: "and didn't Merle play a sweet slide on that?" I of course agreed, and he went on to say that he hadn't been able to play the song since Merle's accident, for he'd miss that slide too much. (so much for Lynn's request!) As we were walking back to the theater I over heard Doc whisper to Jack: "do you think we could play "She's My Curly-Headed Baby"? Jack just looked at me and smiled... And he opened their second set that night by playing the song and dedicating it to "Miss Lynn and David". It still tears us up... After the show and after all the folks had left the theater Lynn went up to Doc, thanking him as she hugged him and as she likes to tell: "my hair must have brushed his cheek for he said that I do have beautiful hair!" I do remember her melting into a little pad of butter...>g<

  Maple Al

  Participant

  April 17, 2015 at 12:04 am

  Post count: 1

  #305

  Doc loved the sea bass special at the brew pub which was a short walk from the theater. Every Doc show was special but to have supper with him before the show, thanks Dave. Looking forward to getting back to Merlefest after a long break.

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