Watch Legendary Luthier Wayne Henderson’s Paste Session From MerleFest

Paste Studio “On The Road” rambles on, this time to Wilkesboro, N.C., for the 36th annual MerleFest! The festival was founded in 1988 in memory of Doc Watson’s son Merle, and features “traditional plus” music, described by Doc Watson himself as, “the traditional music of the Appalachian region plus whatever other styles we were in the mood to play.” Watch legendary luthier Wayne Henderson play one of his own handcrafted guitars, showcasing a singular talent and dedication to the art of guitar making.

Full Session

Henderson starts the session with a tribute to the Carter Family, playing a Carter medley featuring the first songs he learned as a kid. He follows the Carter Family medley with a story about the jaw-dropping ingenuity he used to build his first guitar, and the resulting lifetime of obsessive craftsmanship. There’s nothing I can write that does justice to the story and to the way Wayne tells it, please have a look at the full session to enjoy a master at work.

Carter Family Medley

Sally Ann

Steel Guitar Rag

Big thanks to Wayne and Jayne Henderson, MerleFest, and our friends at Window World for bringing these sessions to life, and please stay tuned for more Paste x MerleFest sessions to come!