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{{Short description|American jazz double bassist}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Doug Watkins
| image = Doug Watkins.jpg
| name = Doug Watkins
| caption = Watkins c. 1950
| image = Doug Watkins.jpg
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| caption = Doug Watkins [date unknown]
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1934|3|2}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1934|3|2}}
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States
| birth_place = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|2|5|1934|3|2}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1962|2|5|1934|3|2}}
| death_place = near [[Holbrook, Arizona]]
| death_place = near [[Holbrook, Arizona]]
| instrument = [[Double bass]], [[cello]]
| instrument = [[Double bass]], [[cello]]
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| occupation = Musician, composer
| occupation = Musician, composer
| years_active = 1950–1962
| years_active = 1950–1962
| label = [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]], [[Prestige Records|Prestige]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| label = [[Blue Note Records|Blue Note]], [[Prestige Records|Prestige]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| associated_acts = [[Art Blakey]], [[Horace Silver]], [[Sonny Rollins]], [[Hank Mobley]], [[Charles Mingus]], [[Red Garland]], [[Donald Byrd]], [[Kenny Burrell]], [[Lee Morgan]]
| associated_acts = [[Art Blakey]], [[Horace Silver]], [[Sonny Rollins]], [[Hank Mobley]], [[Charles Mingus]], [[Red Garland]], [[Donald Byrd]], [[Kenny Burrell]], [[Lee Morgan]]
}}
}}
'''Douglas Watkins''' (March 2, 1934 &ndash; February 5, 1962) was an American [[jazz]] [[double bassist]].<ref name="Larkin50">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|page=479}}</ref> He was best known for being an accompanist to various hard bop artists in the Detroit area, including [[Donald Byrd]] and [[Jackie McLean]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bluenote.com/artists/doug-watkins|title=Doug Watkins {{!}} Artists|website=Bluenote.com|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en}}</ref>
'''Douglas Watkins''' (March 2, 1934 &ndash; February 5, 1962) was an American [[jazz]] [[double bassist]].<ref name="Larkin50">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music]]|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=[[Virgin Books]]|date=2002|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-937-0|page=479}}</ref> He was best known for being an accompanist to various hard bop artists in the Detroit area, including [[Donald Byrd]] and [[Jackie McLean]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.bluenote.com/artists/doug-watkins|title=Doug Watkins {{!}} Artists|website=Bluenote.com|access-date=2018-06-26|language=en}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Watkins was born in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States.<ref name="Larkin50"/> An original member of the [[Art Blakey|Jazz Messengers]], he later played in [[Horace Silver]]'s quintet<ref name=bop>{{Cite web|url=http://hardbop.tripod.com/watkins.html|title=Doug Watkins: The Hard Bop Homepage|website=Hardbop.tripod.com|accessdate=2019-10-29}}</ref> and freelanced with [[Gene Ammons]], [[Kenny Burrell]], [[Donald Byrd]], [[Art Farmer]], [[Jackie McLean]], [[Hank Mobley]],<ref name=bop/> [[Lee Morgan]], [[Sonny Rollins]], and [[Phil Woods]] among others.<ref name="AM">{{cite web |last=Yanow |first=Scott |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/doug-watkins-mn0000199677/biography |title=Doug Watkins |website=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=October 26, 2020}}</ref>
Watkins was born in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], United States.<ref name="Larkin50"/> An original member of the [[Art Blakey|Jazz Messengers]], he later played in [[Horace Silver]]'s quintet<ref name=bop>{{Cite web|url=http://hardbop.tripod.com/watkins.html|title=Doug Watkins: The Hard Bop Homepage|website=Hardbop.tripod.com|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref> and freelanced with [[Gene Ammons]], [[Kenny Burrell]], [[Donald Byrd]], [[Art Farmer]], [[Jackie McLean]], [[Hank Mobley]],<ref name=bop/> [[Lee Morgan]], [[Sonny Rollins]], and [[Phil Woods]] among others.<ref name="AM">{{cite web |last=Yanow |first=Scott |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/doug-watkins-mn0000199677/biography |title=Doug Watkins |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=October 26, 2020}}</ref>


Some of Watkins' best-known work can be heard, when as a 22-year-old, he appeared on the 1956 album, ''[[Saxophone Colossus]]'' by tenor saxophonist [[Sonny Rollins]], with [[Max Roach]] and [[Tommy Flanagan (musician)|Tommy Flanagan]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>
Some of Watkins' best-known work can be heard, when as a 22-year-old, he appeared on the 1956 album ''[[Saxophone Colossus]]'' by tenor saxophonist [[Sonny Rollins]], with [[Max Roach]] and [[Tommy Flanagan (musician)|Tommy Flanagan]].<ref name="Larkin50"/>


According to [[Horace Silver]]'s autobiography, ''Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty'', Watkins, along with Silver, later left [[Art Blakey|Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers]] because the other members of the band at the time ([[Kenny Dorham]], [[Hank Mobley]] and Blakey) had serious drug problems, whereas Watkins and Silver were tired of being harassed and searched by the police every time they went to a gig in a new city and club.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty|last=Silver|first=Horace|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|date=1 August 2007|isbn=978-0520253926}}</ref>
According to [[Horace Silver]]'s autobiography, ''Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty'', Watkins, along with Silver, later left [[Art Blakey|Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers]] because the other members of the band at the time ([[Kenny Dorham]], [[Hank Mobley]] and Blakey) had serious drug problems, whereas Watkins and Silver were tired of being harassed and searched by the police every time they went to a gig in a new city and club.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty|last=Silver|first=Horace|publisher=[[University of California Press]]|date=1 August 2007|isbn=978-0520253926}}</ref>


When [[Charles Mingus]] briefly ventured over to the piano stool in 1961, he hired Watkins to take over the bass part; ''Oh Yeah!!!'' and ''Tonight at Noon'' were the results.<ref name="Larkin50"/>
When [[Charles Mingus]] briefly ventured over to the piano stool in 1961, he hired Watkins to take over the bass part; ''[[Oh Yeah (Charles Mingus album)|Oh Yeah]]'' and ''[[Tonight at Noon (album)|Tonight at Noon]]'' were the results.<ref name="Larkin50"/>


Watkins recorded only two albums as leader: ''Watkins at Large'' for Transition; and ''Soulnik'' for New Jazz.<ref name="AM" /> The latter, recorded in 1960, with [[Yusef Lateef]], features Watkins on cello with Herman Wright backing him on bass.<ref name="Penguin9" /> The cello was an instrument he had started to play only a few days before the recording session.<ref name="Penguin9">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |author-link2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz|The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]] |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1470}}</ref>
Watkins recorded only two albums as leader: ''Watkins at Large'' for [[Transition Records|Transition]]; and ''[[Soulnik]]'' for [[Prestige Records|New Jazz]].<ref name="AM" /> The latter, recorded in 1960, with [[Yusef Lateef]], features Watkins on cello with [[Herman Wright]] backing him on bass.<ref name="Penguin9" /> The cello was an instrument he had started to play only a few days before the recording session.<ref name="Penguin9">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Richard |author-link=Richard Cook (journalist) |last2=Morton |first2=Brian |author-link2=Brian Morton (Scottish writer) |title=[[The Penguin Guide to Jazz|The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings]] |year=2008 |edition=9th |publisher=[[Penguin Books|Penguin]] |isbn=978-0-141-03401-0 |page=1470}}</ref>


Watkins died in an automobile accident near [[Holbrook, Arizona]], on February 5, 1962,<ref name="Grove">{{Cite Grove |last=Rhyan |first=Dianna |date=2003 |title=Watkins, Doug(las) |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J474900 |accessdate=October 26, 2020}}</ref> while traveling from Arizona to San Francisco to meet drummer [[Philly Joe Jones]] for a gig.<ref name="Larkin50"/>
Watkins died in an automobile accident near [[Holbrook, Arizona]], on February 5, 1962,<ref name="Grove">{{Cite Grove |last=Rhyan |first=Dianna |date=2003 |title=Watkins, Doug(las) |doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J474900 }}</ref> while traveling from Arizona to San Francisco to meet drummer [[Philly Joe Jones]] for a gig.<ref name="Larkin50"/>


==Discography==
==Discography==
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[[Category:Male double-bassists]]
[[Category:American male double-bassists]]
[[Category:The Jazz Messengers members]]
[[Category:The Jazz Messengers members]]
[[Category:Blue Note Records artists]]
[[Category:Blue Note Records artists]]
[[Category:Prestige Records artists]]
[[Category:Prestige Records artists]]
[[Category:Musicians from Detroit]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Detroit]]
[[Category:20th-century American musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American double-bassists]]
[[Category:Jazz musicians from Michigan]]
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[[Category:20th-century double-bassists]]
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[[Category:20th-century American male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 19:56, 12 December 2024

Doug Watkins
Doug Watkins [date unknown]
Doug Watkins [date unknown]
Background information
Born(1934-03-02)March 2, 1934
Detroit, Michigan, United States
DiedFebruary 5, 1962(1962-02-05) (aged 27)
near Holbrook, Arizona
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Double bass, cello
Years active1950–1962
LabelsBlue Note, Prestige, Atlantic

Douglas Watkins (March 2, 1934 – February 5, 1962) was an American jazz double bassist.[1] He was best known for being an accompanist to various hard bop artists in the Detroit area, including Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean.[2]

Biography

[edit]

Watkins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States.[1] An original member of the Jazz Messengers, he later played in Horace Silver's quintet[3] and freelanced with Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Art Farmer, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley,[3] Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins, and Phil Woods among others.[4]

Some of Watkins' best-known work can be heard, when as a 22-year-old, he appeared on the 1956 album Saxophone Colossus by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, with Max Roach and Tommy Flanagan.[1]

According to Horace Silver's autobiography, Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty, Watkins, along with Silver, later left Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers because the other members of the band at the time (Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley and Blakey) had serious drug problems, whereas Watkins and Silver were tired of being harassed and searched by the police every time they went to a gig in a new city and club.[5]

When Charles Mingus briefly ventured over to the piano stool in 1961, he hired Watkins to take over the bass part; Oh Yeah and Tonight at Noon were the results.[1]

Watkins recorded only two albums as leader: Watkins at Large for Transition; and Soulnik for New Jazz.[4] The latter, recorded in 1960, with Yusef Lateef, features Watkins on cello with Herman Wright backing him on bass.[6] The cello was an instrument he had started to play only a few days before the recording session.[6]

Watkins died in an automobile accident near Holbrook, Arizona, on February 5, 1962,[7] while traveling from Arizona to San Francisco to meet drummer Philly Joe Jones for a gig.[1]

Discography

[edit]

As leader

[edit]

As sideman

[edit]

With Pepper Adams

With Gene Ammons

With Art Blakey

With Tina Brooks

With Kenny Burrell

With Donald Byrd

With John Coltrane

  • Dakar (Prestige, 1957 [1963])

With Tommy Flanagan

With Curtis Fuller

With Red Garland

With Benny Golson

With Bill Hardman

With Wilbur Harden

With Thad Jones

With Yusef Lateef

With Jackie McLean

With Charles Mingus

With Hank Mobley

With Lee Morgan

With The Prestige All Stars

With Paul Quinichette

With Dizzy Reece

With Rita Reys

With Sonny Rollins

With Horace Silver

With Louis Smith

With Idrees Sulieman

  • Roots (New Jazz, 1958) with the Prestige All Stars

With Billy Taylor

With Phil Woods

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 479. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  2. ^ "Doug Watkins | Artists". Bluenote.com. Retrieved 2018-06-26.
  3. ^ a b "Doug Watkins: The Hard Bop Homepage". Hardbop.tripod.com. Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  4. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Doug Watkins". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  5. ^ Silver, Horace (1 August 2007). Let's Get to the Nitty Gritty. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520253926.
  6. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1470. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  7. ^ Rhyan, Dianna (2003). "Watkins, Doug(las)". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J474900. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.
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