Photo Credit: Peter Figen

On Sept. 14, the GRAMMY Museum, in partnership with the Americana Music Association, will present an evening in honor of the 100th birthday of Doc Watson. The event is scheduled to take place at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York. During the impending celebration, conversations will be moderated by WNYC’s John Schaefer and feature Steve Earle, Bill Frisell, Matthew Stevens, and Yasmin Williams discussing the album I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100.

The tribute album presents the profound influences and powerful legacy associated with the folk music icon. I Am A Pilgrim: Doc Watson at 100 includes an impressive and unique lineup of contributors, including Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Jeff Parker, Valerie June, Nora Brown, Jerry Douglas, Chris Eldridge, Corey Harris, Jack Lawrence, Lionel Loueke, Ariel Posen, Marc Ribot, and the aforementioned musicians, participating in the impending event. 

Watson, who passed away in 2012, remains one of modern music’s most influential figures, as illustrated through the making of I Am A Pilgrim, which highlights the artist’s beloved recordings and expansive catalog. Included are homages to Watson’s distinct style of playing the guitar, represented on the set with the finger-tapping style exhibited by Williams on “Doc’s Guitar,” Posen’s slide guitar on “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” as well as  the harmonics featured on Loueke’s version of “Reuben’s Train.” 

In addition to the aforementioned material, album highlights also include June and Frisell’s “Handsome Molly,” Jeff Parker and Matthew Stevens’ take on “Alberta,” Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal’s “I Am A Pilgrim,” and Dolly Parton’s version of “The Last Thing On My Mind,” a song that Parton recorded in 1967 and performed by Parton and Watson at Merlefest together in 2001.

Watson was honored with 7 GRAMMY Awards and 23 nominations during his career, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. He also received the National Medal of Arts in 1997 from President Clinton and has been the subject of multiple books, boxed sets and compilation albums. The musician is regarded as an integral part of the early 1960s folk revival and became known as one of the greatest flatpicking guitarists of all time, a style that influenced the playing of countless guitarists.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit this link.