>From his NYTimes obituary:

"At the age of 5 or 6 he received his first harmonica as a Christmas
gift, and at 11 his father made him a fretless banjo with a head made
from the skin of a family cat that had just died. [couldn't get away
with that in my family!]

Arthel dropped out of school in the seventh grade and began working
for his father, who helped him get past his disability. =93I would not
have been worth the salt that went in my bread if my dad hadn=92t put me
at the end of a crosscut saw to show me that there was not a reason in
the world that I couldn=92t pull my own weight and help to do my part in
some of the hard work,=94 he told Frets magazine in 1979. "

Doc was the real deal and will be greatly missed.  At least he is
finally reunited with his son Merle.

--Brian
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