Chris Austin Songwriting Contest Winner To Perform at Renowned Bluegrass Festival

The winner of the 19th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest will perform this year at the renowned bluegrass musical festival, Merlefest.
By: Blooming Twig Books
 
Dec. 28, 2010 - PRLog -- The winner of the 19th annual Chris Austin Songwriting Contest will perform this year at the renowned bluegrass musical festival, Merlefest. Created to honor the memory of cherished songwriter Chris Austin, this contest funds a scholarship established in his name. In a similar, legendary guitarist Doc Watson organized Merlefest to honor a lost loved one--his departed son, slide guitarist Eddy Merle Watson. The quirky relationship between this father and son has been the subject of gossip in folk music circles for some time, but it had never before been well documented--until now. Blind But Now I See, the no-holds-barred account of Doc Watson's life and career, reveals not only the truth about him and his family, but also the many obstacles he had to overcome throughout every stage of his life.

Written by Dr. Kent Gustavson, this first-ever biography of the folk and bluegrass icon has quickly become an Amazon Bestseller, reaching #1 in the "Country & Folk" category. Dr. Gustavson researched the book over a period of six years, and it provides a comprehensive and critical look at the life of Doc Watson. Blind But Now I See also features dozens of never-before-seen photographs, as well as artistic renderings of Doc Watson’s childhood and career.

The book reveals never-before-released details about Doc Watson’s life, including:

•   The inside story of Doc Watson’s discovery and rise to greatness, from sideman to superstar and from local stages to Carnegie Hall, researched from the private notes of his late discoverer Ralph Rinzler
•   A full history of Doc’s family, his time at the Raleigh School for the Blind, his family’s deep roots in North Carolina, and his treasured first string instrument: a banjo crafted by his father from the hide of his granny’s old cat
•   The true story of how Doc’s son, slide guitarist Eddy Merle Watson: his rise to the top, his tragic tractor accident, and his funeral, where friends gathered around his grave to sing "Midnight Rider"

Blind But Now I See is already one of the most talked about books of the year. Fill to the brim with new and compelling interviews, Doc Watson's story is told through the experiences of over 70 notable musicians and experts on Doc Watson’s life, including:

Abigail Washburn, Alan O’Bryant, Alice Gerrard, Annie Bird, B. Townes, Bela Fleck, Ben Harper, Beppe Gambetta, Clint Howard, Darol Anger, David Grisman, David Moultrup, and more.

Dr. Gustavson--professor, musician, classical composer and author of Blind But Now I See--is currently available for interviews, feature stories and speaking engagements on Doc Watson, his impact on the American music industry, and the evolution of country, folk and bluegrass music. To schedule an interview with him, please contact Pamela Pelletier at pamela@bloomingtwig.com. Press materials and review copies are available upon request.

About the Author:

Dr. Kent Gustavson earned his Ph.D. from Stony Brook University in New York, where he now teaches music, leadership, and language. He speaks around the world on both music and publishing, and he has interviewed hundreds of award-winning musicians and authors for his radio show, "Sound Authors." Dr. Gustavson has released more than a dozen audio recordings on his independent record label, Ninety and Nine Records. He lives and works in Sound Beach, New York. Visit his Web site (www.kentgustavson.com) for more information.

# # #

Blooming Twig, based in New York City, is the publisher of award-winning books that matter, from self-help to children’s fiction. We publish between 15 and 20 new titles each year, and are distributed in the United States and internationally.
End
Source:Blooming Twig Books
Email:***@bloomingtwig.com Email Verified
Zip:10163-4668
Tags:Doc Watson, Bluegrass, Flatpicking, Acoustic Guitar, Festival, Merlefest, Music, Chris Austin
Industry:Books, Family, Music
Location:New York City - New York - United States
Account Email Address Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
Blooming Twig PRs
Trending News
Most Viewed
Top Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share