Robert Bartha L. "Billy" Watkins (July 25, 1927 – January 24, 2010) was a gospel and song singer who later became a Christian minister. He was also founder of the gospel singing group, The Zion Travelers. He recorded for the Arwin, Challenge, Chess, Era, Imperial, Kent and Victor labels.
Billy Watkins | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Bartha L. Watkins |
| Born | July 25, 1927 |
| Died | January 24, 2010 (aged 82) Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Soul, Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Minister |
| Labels | Arwin, Challenge, Chess, Era, Imperial, Kent, Victor |
Background
editWatkins was born to parents Bartha Lillard Watkins and Priscilla Kinard on July 25, 1927.[1] When he was 11 years old, he and his family The family moved to California. A short time later Watkins was working in a barber shop shining shoes. While working there he met Nat King Cole who would have a significant influence on him. He was also a member of the gospel group, The Zion Travelers.[2]
Music career
editThe Zion Travelers
editKnown as Bartha L. Watkins, he was a member The Zion Travelers, a group that was formed in 1944 and first recorded in late 1947. Watkins was one of the lead singers. The other was L.C. Cohen. Other members were Tenors, L.W. Van and Garland Fate Mason, baritone singer Wesley Sherman and bass singer Felton Vernon. The group also recorded in the 1950s on Sultan Records and Aladdin Records.[3] In 1954, they had a single "Moving Up King's Highway" bw "Where Is My Wandering Child" out on Score 5054. The B side was composed by Wakkins.[4][5] They also had recordings released in the 1960s. Watkins may no longer been a member by then.[6]
Solo
editBy October 1959, Wakins had a record out on the Challenge label. The record "You're Unforgettable" bw "Rendezvous" which Billboard predicted could do well was charting locally that year.[7][8] Later he had another single released on Challenge. I was "Go Billy Go" bw "Good Times" in 1960.[9] The A side was co-written with Tony Hilder and Charles Wright.[10] By October 1966, he had "Little Things Mean a Lot" out on the Chattahoochee label which was a Hot 100 prediction.[11]
Around 1970, Watkins was in Japan. He had an album released there on the Japanese Victor label. The album was Golden Soul & Country.[12]
Having toured throughout the United States, Europe, the Orient and Australia, and having some chart success, it was in the early 1970s that he decided to make a change both musically and spiritually. So when he got back to the US, he decided to stay with gospel music.[13]
Ministry
editHe would later become an ordained pastor and establish the Freedom of Spirit Church, a non-denominational church in South Central Los Angeles. He also appeared regularly on television at Los Angeles' Christian television station KAGL.[14][15]
Death
editWatkins died at Centinela Hospital Medical Center Medical at Inglewood California on January 24, 2010.[16]
Discography
edit| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Convince Me" / "This Is Me Loving You" | Arwin | 1958 | |
| "You're Unforgettable (After You've Been Kissed)" / "Rendezvous" | Challenge 59056 | 1959 | |
| "The Good Times" / "Go Billy Go" | Challenge 59078 | 1960 | [17] |
| "Wanna Know" / "I Wanna Know" / "Where Is My Love" | Chess 1786 | 1961 | |
| "Crackin' Up" / There Must Be a Reason" | Chess 1810 | 1961 | [18] |
| "My One And Only One" / "Calipso Twist) Tight Blue Jeans" | Jay Ree 2206 | 1962 | |
| "Just For You (Stone Fox)" / "Beverly" | Kent K 411X45 | 1964 | |
| "Baby For You (Stone Fox)" / "I'm Tired" | Chartmaker 405 | 1966 | |
| "Little Things Mean A Lot" / "I'm Somebody's Love" | Chattahoochee CH-712 | 1966 | |
| "The Ice-Man" / "The Blue And Lonely" | Era 3183 | 1967 | |
| "Echoes" / "Somebody's Love" | Imperial 66371 | 1969 | |
| "I'm Somebody's Love" / "Little Things Mean A Lot" | Robell 1001 | ||
| "The Rooster Smash" / "Gotta Have A Thing Going" | Jay Ree 101 | ||
| "Baby For You" / "I'm Tired" | Robell 2000 / 2001 | ||
| "The Ice-Man" / "The Blue And Lonely" | Era Back To Back Hits Series 45-BSN-624 | ||
| "Mother Of The Universe" / "When I Have Gone The Last Mile Of The Way" | Mother Of The Universe MOU-001 | [19] | |
| "Merry Christmas To God" / "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" | Tempe Records T-106 | ||
| "Judgements Comin'" / "Are You My Redeeming Saviour" | Schnipple - Up BW 001 |
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Soul & Country | Victor, JET JETLP 001 | 1970 | |
| A Family Gathering For God | Tumps Music FGO | 1978 | [20] |
| Act | Album title | Catalogue | Year | Song | Notes # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various artists | Spiritual Bread For The Aquarian Age | Tumps Music | 197? | "The Lord Will Set You Free" "The Last Mile Of The Way" |
Billy Watkins, The Spice of Life[21] |
| Various artists | For Connoisseurs Only, Volume 2 | Kent Soul CDKEND 251 | 2005 | "Love Line" | |
| Various artists | For Connoisseurs Only, Volume 3 | Kent Soul CDKEND 281 | 2007 | "Beverly" | [22] |
References
edit- ^ Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas
- ^ Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
- ^ AllMusic - Zion Travelers , Biography by Jim Dunn
- ^ Billboard, April 24, 1954 - Page 43 Reviews of New Spiritual Records
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 8, Part 5B, Number 1, Unpublished Music, January - June 1954 - PAge 426
- ^ AllMusic - Zion Travelers , Biography by Jim Dunn
- ^ Billboard, October 5, 1959 - Page 37 SPECIAL MERIT SPOTLIGHTS
- ^ First Pressings: 1959, Galen Gart - Page 148
- ^ Global Dog Productions - Discography for Challenge Records
- ^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 14, Part 5, Number 1, Music January - June, 1960 - Page 139, 1960, Current Registrations
- ^ Billboard, October 8, 1966 - Page 16 CHART Spotlights-Predicted to Reach the HOT 100 Chart
- ^ Billboard, February 28, 1970 - Page 61 From The Music Capitals of the World, TOKYO
- ^ Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
- ^ Los Angeles Times, October 6, 2002 - Faithful Giver Receives Accolades for Years of Serving the Homeless By Erika Hayasaki
- ^ Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
- ^ Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas
- ^ 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA
- ^ HitHistory - Chess 1950-1976
- ^ 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA
- ^ Discogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums
- ^ Discogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums
- ^ MusicBrainz - Billy Watkins ~ Artist