Merlefest Adventure
Everyone needs a sandcastle masterpiece at a music
festival.
I found myself, with the help of
friend Robert Brown, backstage
in Doc Watson’s private dress
ing room. Doc is my personal
favorite writer, singer and musi
cian at the festival, or maybe in
the world, and lucky for me, a
personal friend of Robert s. I
was star-struck from 40 rows
back the day before, so being
next to him and his good friend
Dr. Jim Rouse of Tennesse as
they prepared the next set, put
me in a tizzy.
Photographs of Doc with every
respected musician imaginable,
taken by Robert Brown, cover
the walls of the legend’s dress
ing room. I could have stayed
there for the remaining days of
the festival but understood they
needed some privacy and
stepped into the hall.
I was lucky enough to get to talk
with Earl Scruggs who let me
take his photo and couldn t have
been nicer. I was just awed that
these people, who I have
enjoyed my whole life, were so
gracious and open.
I felt that my good fortune was
surely overflowing and would
have been happy to go back and
enjoy these masters from the
audience when I thought about
my three beautiful nieces and
how they were counting on me.
I
On my way out I noticed a
“roadie” standing in the hall
holding what I cleverly decided
was Vince Gill’s mandolin, so I
sprang into action.
“Have you seen Vince Gill,” I
asked him as a well-versed
reporter should.
He said he had.
“Do you play with him?” I
asked with hope growing for my
nieces’ autograph possibilities.
He said he did.
“Do you think you can help me
get his autograph?” I persisted.
“You really like him do you?”
he asked me, just to be sure it
would be worth his while to
hunt Vince down, I suspected.
I told him yes, he was one of my
favorites and so he asked for my
photos and pen. Thank good
ness I was such a prepared
reporter and had it all together.
He then took the photos out of
the manila envelope, signed
them and said, “So you really do
like me, huh?”
“Well, uh...duh.” I said with
finesse.
Next time, along with my mis
sion, my pen, camera and my
writing pad- I’ll research my
subject a bit more.
I can report that Vince Gill has a
very good sense of humor, even
at my expense.
After graciously autographing
all three photos and a bit more
teasing, he took to the stage in
his T- shirt and jeans and played
some mighty fine tunes.
In all my excitement -1 know it
would really matter to my new
pal Vince, I never got to tell him
that I really do like him- espe
cially now!
Even though it was pouring rain,
Rosanne Cash drew a large
crowd of new and old fans.
Doc Watson listens to Patty Loveless with his friend Dr. Jim
Rouse.
Doc gets down to work.
DocWatson TAPStothetunehisgood friend Dr. Jim Rouse has written in rriemory of Doc':
cnn Mario
. ys 7
Earl Scruggs had the crowd on their feet when he played his famous theme
from The Beverly Hillbillies.
Robert Brown, official photographer for MerleFest, stands next to some ^Q^^rg PhS
he has taken over the years. The outfit is one Merle Watson wore often while p
The crowd as seen from the stage.
Vince Gill in Aspen with Leah, Becky and Kate Dillsaver. He was gracious enough to sign a photo for each of the
Patty Loveless and her band perform on the main stage.
Maggie Shoobridge/CITIZEN