Charles Robert Watts was born at University College Hospital in Bloomsbury London, to Charles Richard Watts a lorry driver for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and wife Lillian Charlotte, who had been a factory worker. He had a sister Linda with whom he was close. As a child Watts lived in Wembley at 23 Pilgrims Way, Many of Wembley's houses had been destroyed by Luftwaffe bombs during World War 2, Watts and his family lived in a prefab as did many in the community. In 1946 Watts met neighbour Dave Green, who had moved next door at 22 Pilgrims Way, they became childhood friends and remained so until Watts's death. Watts earliest records were jazz recordings, he remembered owning 78 RPM records of Jelly Roll Morton and Charlie Parker. Green recalls that Watts also had the one with Monk and the Johnny Dodds Trio, Charlie was ahead of me in listening and acquisitions, Green and Watts would become bandmates in many of Charlie's jazz projects. After leaving art school he worked as a graphic designer for an advertising company called Charlie Daniels Studios, and also played drums occasionally with local bands in coffee shops and clubs. He and Green began their musical careers together from 1958 to 1959, playing in a jazz band in Middlesex called the Jo Jones All Stars. In 1961 Watts met Alexis Korner, who invited him to join his band Blues Incorporated. At that time Watts was on his way to a sojourn working as a graphic designer in Denmark, but he accepted Korner's offer when he returned to London in February 1962. Watts played regularly with Blues Incorporated and maintained a job with the advertising firm Charles Hobson and Gray. In mid 1962 Watts first met Brian Jones, Ian Stu Stewart, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who also frequented the London rhythm and blues clubs, but it was not until January 1963 that Watts finally agreed to join the Rolling Stones. Initially the band could not afford to pay Watts, who had been earning a regular salary from his gigs. His first public appearance as a permanent member was at the Ealing Jazz Club on 2 February 1963, Watts was often introduced as The Wembley Whammer by Jagger during live concerts. Besides his work as a musician, Watts contributed graphic art and comic strips to early Rolling Stones records such as the Between the Buttons record sleeve and was responsible for the 1975 tour announcement press conference in New York City. The band surprised the throng of waiting reporters by driving and playing Brown Sugar on the back of a flatbed truck in the middle of Manhattan traffic. Watts remembered this was a common way for New Orleans jazz bands to promote upcoming dates. Moreover with Jagger he designed the elaborate stages for tours, first contributing to the lotus shaped design of the Tour of the Americas, as well as the Steel Wheels Urban Jungle Tour, the Bridges to Babylon Tour, the Licks Tour and the A Bigger Bang Tour.
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10 янв 2024
