I met doc the first time in '72. He was sitting on a p/u tailgate with Merle just pickin' for fun, mostly. Merle had just started playing with his dad.
The last time I saw him was in Boone, NC, where my band was playing. We had gotten there early and were just wandering around town killing time and there was Doc with a group of local pickers in closed sewing machine shop, just playing away and all having a great time.
The man was as genuine as you could ever imagine, and a great talent. He will be missed by all of the musicians in my part of the world, and by me.
R.I.P.