In its 60-plus years of representing, presenting and publishing the best in roots music — including Reverend Gary Davis, Joan Baez, and the Klezmatics — the company unveiled its new imprint, FLi Records in 2020. The label’s initial focus will be on historical recordings from the company’s extensive vault of live and studio recordings.
Dolly Parton, Bill Frisell, Rosanne Cash, Corey Harris, Valerie June – what do these wonderful musicians have in common? They and a host of others have banded together to pay tribute to Doc Watson on the 100thanniversary of his birth.
FLi Records first album is an all-instrumental collection from Doc & Merle Watson called Songs Doc Didn’t Sing. The guitar wizards were at the height of their powers when they recorded these tunes in the early 1980’s, shortly before Merle’s untimely death.
Doc Watson, of course, changed guitar playing forever. As President Bill Clinton said as he presented the National Medal of Arts, “There may not be a serious, committed baby boomer alive who didn’t at some point in his or her youth spend a few minutes at least trying to learn to pick a guitar like Doc Watson.”
Merle Watson leans more towards blues, and the disc showcases his superb slide guitar work.
The recording, first in a series, was produced and curated by Mitch Greenhill, Doc and Merle’s longtime manager.
FLi Records looks towards an exciting future as it explores its collection of music from the past.
