Metting, Fred

Dr. Fred Metting is Associate Professor of English at the University of New Hampshire-Manchester where he teaches courses in American literature, American nature writers, literary folklore, and American music. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Metting has written a previous book on the American musicians Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal.

Life, Work and Music of the American Folk Artist Doc Watson

2006 0-7734-5840-9
Arthel “Doc” Watson, an 82-year-old musician from North Carolina, is one of the two or three most important acoustic guitarists in American musical history. The story of Watson’s music is a rich and complex narrative which involves the listener in an exploration of the music of the Scottish settlers in the Appalachian Mountains and the changes in that music as the mountaineers were influenced by the African American music of itinerant laborers in the nineteenth century and by sounds from records and radio early in the twentieth century. Despite Watson’s importance to American acoustic music and despite the richness of the story of his music, a full study of his music has not been realized until now. This book explores the musical culture of Watson’s immediate family (the hymns of Watson’s church, the ballads and fiddle tunes of his immediate family, and the music of his mountain home) as well as the extended aural world that came to the mountains through records and radio when Watson was a young boy. Finally this study explores Watson’s important contributions to the folk revival of the 1960s when he helped change the role of the acoustic guitar in American music. This work will be important to students of American music and folk culture.

Seven American Authors-Agee, Berry, Dillard, Lopez, Marshall, Oliver, Snyder: Essays by Fred Metting

2022 1-4955-0997-4
These essays about ("appreciations of") seven American authors are inspired by many decades of teaching American literature. They "touch upon many of the voices I found most interesting as I discovered so much fun, rich, exciting American culture." -Fred Metting

Seven American Musicians and Ensembles-Mississippi John Hurt, Doc Watson, Fats Domino, Little Richard, The Million Dollar Quartet, Ola Belle Reed, Hazel Dickens

2022 1-4955-1017-4
"I was a college teacher for several decades and I taught...American music. The following essays touch upon the many voices I found most interesting as I discovered so much fun, rich, exciting American culture. ...The result is this loving catalogue, this inventory of some of my 'appreciations'--those musicians who moved me." -Fred Metting