Folk Legend Doc Watson in Critical Condition After Fall

Doc Watson, the 89-year-old blind folk guitar legend, is in critical condition after falling down at his home in Deep Gap, N.C.—the same town in which he was born. His daughter told the Associated Press that he didn’t break any bones but was “real sick.”

Doc, who was born Arthel Watson and lost his vision before he was 1, is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists ever to have come out of the American folk tradition, known especially as a master of the “flatpicking” style.

He’s won seven Grammys and the National Medal of the Arts, and also founded Merlefest—a folk music gathering named after his son, who died in a tractor accident.

Here’s hoping this national musical treasure recovers soon, so he can keep singing those Deep River Blues.