The Iconic Bluegrass Musician That Discovered Old Crow Medicine Show

Old Crow Medicine Show is likely one of the last purely popularized bluegrass bands currently in the world of country music. Nothing about their music or appearance articulates a phony sound or aesthetic. In other words, they are the real deal, and they’ve been the real deal ever since their inception in the state of North Carolina.

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In light of their bluegrass roots, OCMS busked and busked and busked until they got their official launch in 1998. Prior to their hit song, “Wagon Wheel,” the group were troubadours that frequented the streets of Boone, North Carolina. Particularly on the doorstep of a pharmacy located in the mountain town. Well, one day, the biggest name in the bluegrass genre would stumble across them and give them the endorsement they so badly needed.

Old Crow Medicine Show & Doc Watson

Ironically, OCMS met Doc Watson outside the very pharmacy they frequented. Regarding the matter, OCMS front man, Ketch Secor spoke with Charlotte Magazine about the instance of recognition. Secor started his story by stating, “It was the day after the 4^th of July, and of course there were a lot of tourists from Charlotte” and “We figured it was a good time to try and get their money on the street corner.”

After hours of playing, Secor recalled that, “A woman walked across the street, and asked if we’d be there for a while.” Secor added, “[She] said that she wanted to go get her dad who liked that kind of music.” “A few minutes later, she walked her father, Doc Watson, across the street.”

Of course, Secor and the group were ecstatic about this happenstance interaction. However, this meeting wasn’t just a trading of sights and superlatives. As Watson helped the band launch into bluegrass superstardom. Following Doc Watson’s compliment, Secor said Watson stated, “You guys oughta play this festival that I have. I’ll see that it gets done.” Furthermore and according to Secor, Watson called their music, “Some of the most authentic old time music he’d heard in a long time.”

Long story short, they played that festival, got invited to Nashville, and then got introduced to all the right people. Subsequently, well, the rest is funky folkloric bluegrass history. All in all, if it wasn’t for Doc Watson’s daughter, OCMS very well could still be playing in front of that same pharmacy in Boone, North Carolina.

Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage