CHARLIES WATTS BIOGRAPHY
Charles Robert “Charlie” Watts (born 2 June 1941) is an English drummer, best known as a member of The Rolling Stones. Originally trained as a graphic artist, he started playing drums in London’s rhythm and blues clubs, where he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. In 1963, he joined their group, the Rolling Stones, as drummer, while doubling as designer of their record sleeves and tour stages. He has also toured with his own group, the Charlie Watts Quintet, and appeared at London’s prestigious jazz-club Ronnie Scott’s with the Charlie Watts Tentet.
In 2006, Watts was elected into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame; in the same year, Vanity Fair elected him into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame. In the estimation of noted music critic Robert Christgau, Watts is “rock’s greatest drummer.” In 2016 he was ranked 12th on Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Drummers of All Time” list.
Influences:
Jazz, Blues, Soul, Rock & Roll
Asked . . . Why Gretsch?:
“In the era that I learnt to play, this particular make of drums is what everybody loved to use.”
“I would see Gretsch drums in adverts with some of my favorite jazz drummers, so then I wanted to play Gretsch.”
Advice to Aspiring Musicians:
“Be creative”
Very interesting video about Charlie Watts:
https://youtu.be/M1_6z9oqet8
