Blind folk singer and guitarist Doc Watson has died, aged 89.
He was admitted to the Watuga Medical Center in North Carolina last week (ends25May12) after suffering a fall at his home, and on Thursday (24May12) he was transferred to the intensive care unit at nearby Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he underwent an operation on his colon.
His health was slowly improving towards the end of last week, but he passed away on Tuesday (29May12).
A seven-time Grammy Award winner, Watson, born Arthel Lane Watson, was rendered sightless as an infant.
He became an icon for folk stars like Bob Dylan thanks to his recordings of traditional tunes and he became a mainstream star due to his appearance on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken.
President Bill Clinton declared himself a huge fan when he presented Watson with a National Medal of the Arts in 1997.
The musician's life was tinged with sadness - his son, Merle Watson, died in a 1985 tractor accident.