Leo Watson

An eccentric singer whose improvisations were often futuristic, Leo Watson was way ahead of his time; imagine if <a href="spotify:artist:6HB1MchEEMg40EisSJuenZ">Betty Carter</a> had suddenly appeared in the 1930s! Watson started out as a solo vocalist and a journeyman drummer. After moving to New York in 1929, he performed in a novelty act that toured with the Whitman Sisters' show. The backup group (which included Wilbur and Douglas Daniels) soon broke away to become <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">the Spirits of Rhythm</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3pydIBkubEKNxjsdVCtsD1">Teddy Bunn</a> joined as guitarist. Watson was a highly original scat singer, as he showed on <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">the Spirits</a>' recordings of the time (in 1933) and on his guest appearances with <a href="spotify:artist:63B8I12HGidgMVjKgHto64">the Washboard Rhythm Kings</a>. After the breakup of <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">the Spirits of Rhythm</a> (which featured several of its singing members including Watson playing tiples, a type of ukulele), Watson in 1937 worked on 52nd Street at the Onyx with <a href="spotify:artist:35MId59wx5Xyn6zlxGOfJy">John Kirby</a>.

He had short stints, and made a few intriguing recordings, with the orchestras of <a href="spotify:artist:5wam12nGWDBIrLDV78TNSF">Artie Shaw</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a> in 1938. The following year he worked with <a href="spotify:artist:1UtC17i2QMBMueJrrgxpsP">Jimmy Mundy</a>'s big band for a time and Watson was part of all of the <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">Spirits of Rhythm</a> reunion bands. He was in and out of music for the next few years, not really finding a niche for himself. Watson was based in Los Angeles from 1943 on, sometimes teaming up with <a href="spotify:artist:4aKlL2BE2kPNNtruAQqRA1">Slim Gaillard</a>, but mostly having low-profile jobs before his death from pneumonia at the age of 52. He can be seen briefly in the film Stormy Weather and, in addition to sideman appearances with <a href="spotify:artist:5wam12nGWDBIrLDV78TNSF">Shaw</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Krupa</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:18JiHWhqvWBYpHQ44jMaSG">Leonard Feather</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">the Spirits</a>, Watson led two four-song recording sessions (1939 and 1946), one apiece for Decca and Signature; the latter has some classic performances. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi