Billy Watkins (musician)

Billy Watkins was a gospel and soul singer who later became a Christian minister. He was also founder of the gospel singing group, The Zion Travelers.

Billy Watkins
Birth nameRobert Bartha L. Watkins
BornJuly 25, 1927
DiedJanuary 24, 2010(2010-01-24) (aged 82)
GenresSoul, Gospel
Occupation(s)Singer, Minister
LabelsArwin, Challenge, Chess, Era, Imperial, Kent, Victor
Associated actsThe Zion Travelers, Adam Ross Orchestra

Background

Watkins 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

The Zion Travelers

Known 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

By 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

He 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

Watkins died at Centinela Hospital Medical Center Medical at Inglewood California on January 24, 2010.[16]

Discography
Singles
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
Albums
Title Release info Year Notes #
Golden Soul & Country Victor, JET JETLP 001 1970
A Family Gathering For God Tumps Music FGO 1978 [20]
Appears on
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]
gollark: == zip(zip("<:Thonk:445016973798014987>", "<:Thonkdown:433149076721238016>"), "<:chips:453465151132139521>")
gollark: Just the ones you get from =help calc-turing or whatever.
gollark: == foldr((a b) -> a + b, "", zip(zip("<:Thonk:445016973798014987>", "<:Thonkdown:433149076721238016>"), "<:chips:453465151132139521>"))
gollark: I should really actually read the docs.
gollark: == foldr(a b -> a + b, "", zip(zip("<:Thonk:445016973798014987>", "<:Thonkdown:433149076721238016>"), "<:chips:453465151132139521>"))

References
  1. Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas
  2. Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
  3. AllMusic - Zion Travelers , Biography by Jim Dunn
  4. Billboard, April 24, 1954 - Page 43 Reviews of New Spiritual Records
  5. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 8, Part 5B, Number 1, Unpublished Music, January - June 1954 - PAge 426
  6. AllMusic - Zion Travelers , Biography by Jim Dunn
  7. Billboard, October 5, 1959 - Page 37 SPECIAL MERIT SPOTLIGHTS
  8. First Pressings: 1959, Galen Gart - Page 148
  9. Global Dog Productions - Discography for Challenge Records
  10. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 14, Part 5, Number 1, Music January - June, 1960 - Page 139, 1960, Current Registrations
  11. Billboard, October 8, 1966 - Page 16 CHART Spotlights-Predicted to Reach the HOT 100 Chart
  12. Billboard, February 28, 1970 - Page 61 From The Music Capitals of the World, TOKYO
  13. Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
  14. Los Angeles Times, October 6, 2002 - Faithful Giver Receives Accolades for Years of Serving the Homeless By Erika Hayasaki
  15. Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss
  16. Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas
  17. 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA
  18. HitHistory - Chess 1950-1976
  19. 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA
  20. Discogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums
  21. Discogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums
  22. MusicBrainz - Billy Watkins ~ Artist
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