Four Days Left Until 'Doc Watson Family Milestones' Kickstarter Campaign Ends, $17,000 Needed By Sunday

By Jesse Wood

Feb. 19, 2013. So far 300 people have pledged more than $55,881 to Doc Watson Family Milestones, a Kickstarter project spearheaded by Nancy Watson, Doc’s daughter.

Here's an old photo of Doc with Nancy and Merle that is among the 500 photos collaged in the project. — Here’s an old photo of Doc with Nancy and Merle that is among the 500 photos collaged in the project.

The goal is to reach $72,000 by Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1:58 p.m. The minimum pledge is $1, but if you pledge certain amounts, you will receive artifacts from the Watson Family, such as a harmonica of Doc’s or one of Doc’s baseball caps.

How cool is that?

Though the current figure is about $17,000 less than the goal, Nancy Watson has faith that – slowly but surely – the Kickstarter campaign will be successful, that 5,000 copies of the four-CD box set of never-before-released recordings of Doc Watson and his family and friends will be produced.

“I just feel like we are going to make it, like its meant to be,” Watson said. “You have to have faith you know.”

Watson decided to fund Doc Watson Family Milestones through Kickstarter, so she could have complete artistic control of the project celebrating her family. While some record companies expressed interest in the project, she said they wanted complete control over the recordings.

Nancy Watson wasn’t interested in the commercialization of Doc Watson Family Milestones, which likely would have happened if a record company released the box set.

“When people hear this they are going to be surprised. It’s not like anything that has ever come out before. It’s not like Legacy [the three-disc interview and concert with David Holt]. It’s a totally different thing,” Watson said, adding that the collection was meant to feel as if you were sitting in Doc’s living room.

Click here to see Kickstarter page and make a pledge!