Born in
DeLand,
Florida, Watts studied violin and trumpet in his youth, later switching to sax. He gained musical training at
Florida A&M, where he played in the school's marching band with future saxophonist
Cannonball Adderley. Hired to play with
The Griffin Brothers after college, Watts began his professional career. During the 1950s, he would work with
Lionel Hampton,
Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams,
Dinah Washington,
Jerry Lee Lewis,
Buddy Holly,
Chuck Berry,
the Everly Brothers, and others. He also appeared on
American Bandstand with
Johnny Mathis in 1957, and performed in the
house band at a
Harlem club owned by boxer
Sugar Ray Robinson. Watts's career would eventually decline by the mid-1960s. He played
lounge music in parts of Florida before being "rediscovered" by record producer
Bob Greenlee. He made a minor comeback in 1987, and worked for Greenlee's record label. In 2004 Watts died of a combination of pneumonia and emphysema. He is survived by his wife June and daughter, Natalie Watts Brown. ==Discography==