Lovelace Watkins

Lovelace Watkins (March 6, 1933– June 11, 1995)[1] was an American, Las Vegas-based singer and performer, who achieved prominence in America as well as in Europe and Australia.

Lovelace Watkins
Watkins in 1974
Background information
Birth nameLovelace Allen Watkins
Born(1933-03-06)March 6, 1933
New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJune 11, 1995(1995-06-11) (aged 62)
Glendale, California, U.S.
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVocals
guitar
Years active1960s to 1990s
LabelsMGM, York Records

Biography

Watkins was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1933. He was of African, Indian and Spanish heritage.[2] When his mother gave birth to him, she was only fourteen years old, and he was raised by his grandmother.

He studied microbiology at Rutgers University and also trained as a boxer. His operatically trained and signature booming voice took him to Europe where he became so popular that he was invited to entertain at the Royal Command Performance for the Queen of the United Kingdom. The Times called him “the best entertainer on earth.” In South Africa he received two gold albums and was so celebrated that a public parade was held in his honor – an unprecedented reception for a black entertainer at the height of apartheid. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1961 while promoting his album "The Big, Big Voice of Lovelace Watkins", music arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis. In addition to appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, Lovelace also appeared on the Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas shows.

Nicknamed "The Black Sinatra", his stage personality was earthy and electric. However this charisma and the power and quality of his voice never quite came over on his record releases. As a result of this, plus poor management decisions and a Hollywood screen test that never transpired, Lovelace never reached his full potential in the United States.

Lovelace became popular in northern England, however, and the Liverpool public helped make his debut at their Wookey Hollow's night club an overnight sensation, and he was recalled for a second show one week later. In March 1972, he married Anna Marie Fitzsimmons of Salford, Lancashire, and their baby son was born in 1972; the marriage later ended.

His third Wookey Hollow cabaret appearance was recorded and televised on BBC1 at 11.35pm on 8 May 1974. Following this, Lovelace Watkins at one time held the attendance record at the "Talk Of The Town" in London, England at the height of its prominence, and attended by such stars as Roger Moore and Australia's Barry Crocker, who went on to become a great friend of Lovelace. Watkins did a "Command Performance" for Queen Elizabeth II. He appeared on the British religious variety series "Stars on Sunday", and after his last reappearance at the Wookey Hollow when he introduced his new blonde wife, Lovelace disappeared into obscurity as far as his UK fan base was concerned. In 1974 Lovelace did a ten week long summer season at The ABC Theatre in Blackpool. The shows were sold out.

Australia

Watkins had a long association with Australia's Gold Coast. He helped raise money for the city following the floods in 1974 which had a devastating effect. He was named "Ambassador at large" by Gold Coast Mayor Keith Hunt. Watkins recorded two songs that beat more than 250 entries to be selected. They were "We Love the Gold Coast" by Clyde Collins and "On The Gold Coast" by Tom Louch from Victoria.[3] The single was released on the Finooks Folly label.[4]

South Africa
Rehearsal "Lovelace Watkins Special" South African Broadcasting
1980-Zimbabwe-New Government

In apartheid South Africa, Watkins did better than Sidney Poitier who had to stay on a farm out of town due to lack of accommodation for black people. Watkins was the guest of honor at a woman banquet. He was pictured in The Sunday Express dancing with a white woman, which wasn't good for the hotel where it was taken as it nearly lost its license.[5]

Later life and death

Nearing the end of his music career Watkins started a successful company that prepared apartments and commercial buildings for rental companies in the Las Vegas area, and continued singing at various functions in Las Vegas. He died of leukemia in 1995.[6]

Releases
Singles
Title Release info Year Notes
"Hello Young Lovers" / "When I Fall In Love" MGM K 12875 1960 USA Release
"Tender Love" / "Ma Cherie Au Revoir" Groove 58-0016 1963 USA Release
"I Won't Believe It" / "He's Lookin' Out For The World" Groove 58-0023 1963 USA Release
"Who Am I" / "Dreams" Sue 10-003 1964 USA Release[7]
"I Apologise Baby" / "You Can't Stop Love" Fontana TF 879 1967 UK Release
"Now You're Gone" / "You Made Me So Very Happy", "Spinning Wheel" York SYK 504 1971 UK Release
"Someday Man" / "Take My Hand" York SYK 509 1971 UK Release
"Angel She Was Love" / "Get Ready" York SYK 513 1972 UK Release
"Rain Falls Anywhere It Wants To" / "Sing No Sad Songs For Charlie" York SYK 522 1972 UK Release
"Country Road" / "Tell Her That It's Snowing" York SYK 533 1972 UK Release
"Let Them Play A Sad Song" / "Sing No Sad Songs For Charlie" York SYK 546 1973 UK Release
"My Love Forgive Me" / "The Single Man" York YR 213 1974 UK Release
"The Way I Am" / "Everybody Wants To Call You Sweetheart" York YR 217 1974 UK Release
(Charted in South Africa, released on the Gallo Label[8])[9]
"We Love The Gold Coast" / "On The Gold Coast" Finooks Folly FF 1001 1980 Aust only release[7]
Albums
Title Release info Year Notes
The Big, Big Voice Of Lovelace Watkins MGM Records E3831 1960
Love Is UNI Records 73068 1969
Recorded Live At The Talk Of The Town York Records LYK 901, York Records LYK 902 1971
Love Makes The World Go Round York Records FYK 404 1972
Live In South Africa Gallo – GL 1759 1974
Lovelace 'Live' 77 Polydor 2398 014 1977
A Gift Of Love J & B Records JB 273 1986 Australia only release[10]

Notes
  1. "Lovelace Watkins | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  2. Chicago Tribune, November 14, 1971 - Lovelace did it his way By Arthur Veysey
  3. Gold Coast Bulletin, October 1, 2016 - Flashback Feature: Remembering the Gold Coast’s famous promotional songs of decades past - Andrew Potts
  4. Discogs - Lovelace Watkins – We Love The Gold Coast
  5. Mail Guardian, 04 Apr 1997 - News, Those were the days
  6. Weatherford, Mike. Lure of obscure performer. Las Vegas Review-Journal, June 15, 2003. Retrieved December 1, 2006.
  7. Discogs - Lovelace Watkins Discography Singles & EPs
  8. Billboard, December 21, 1974 - Page 57 Week Ending 21/12/74, Billboard Hits of the World, South Africa
  9. 45Cat - Lovelace Watkins - Discography
  10. Discogs - Lovelace Watkins Discography, Albums
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