Matthew Stevens and Valerie June

Tribute to Doc Watson’s Lasting Legacy on 'I Am a Pilgrim'

Soundcheck | May 4, 2023

This year marks the centennial of legendary North Carolina folk musician Doc Watson, one of the giants of the folk revival of the 50s and 60s. There’s a new album paying homage to Watson's lasting legacy and influence on American music, which features a stellar cast of contemporary musicians playing some of the songs Watson had championed; it’s called I Am A Pilgrim – Doc Watson at 100. The producer of the collection is Grammy Award winning guitarist, songwriter, and producer Matthew Stevens, who gathered a few of the album’s featured musicians and collaborators - singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Valerie June, Brooklyn-born teen banjo wunderkind Nora Brown, fiddler Stephanie Coleman, and musician James Shipp - to play some of these songs in-studio. Plus, hear a bonus original tune, "Man Done Wrong", by Valerie June. -Caryn Havlik

Watch Valerie June and Matthew Stevens play "Handsome Molly":

Watch Nora Brown, Stephanie Coleman, James Shipp: "Am I Born to Die":

Watch Nora Brown, Stephanie Coleman, James Shipp: "Your Long Journey":
 

Watch Matthew Stevens play "Alberta":

Watch Valerie June play "Man Done Wrong":

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