He lost his sight as a result of an eye infection in early childhood, and attended the Governor Morehead School for the Blind in Raleigh. But he was always surrounded by music: his mother, Annie, sang; his father, General Dixon Watson, played the banjo. Numerous other relatives were musicians, singers or storytellers.

Was the musician Doc Watson blind?

Watson was still an infant an eye infection left him blind, and the few years of formal schooling he received were at the Raleigh School for the Blind. His musical training, typical for the region, began in early childhood. ... By then, Arthel had moved beyond the banjo.

What happened to Doc Watson?

Folk music pioneer Doc Watson died on Tuesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, of complications from abdominal surgery, his manager has confirmed. He was 89 years old. Watson had been admitted to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center on May 21st, after suffering a fall at his home in nearby Deep Gap.