finetune artist: Leo Watson

b. 27 February 1898, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, d. 2 May 1950, Los Angeles, California, USA. Early in his career Watson sang on the black vaudeville circuit, but in the late 20s and early 30s he reached New York as a vocalist in a novelty act. The group, which in 1932 became known as the Spirits Of Rhythm, enjoyed considerable popular success. In 1937 Watson joined John Kirby and then worked with the bands of Artie Shaw and Gene Krupa before returning to the Spirits Of Rhythm in 1939. He stayed with the group until the mid-40s. In 1946 he was briefly with Slim Gaillard, who greatly admired Watson's inspired improvizational skills. Apart from singing, Watson also played drums, trombone and tipl (a guitar-like instrument). His highly original singing style, a form of scat, was ingeniously developed in much the same manner as a trombonist might improvise and he was influential upon many of the 40s hipsters and future singing stars such as Mel Torm. At the end of the decade Watson was suffering poor health and he died in 1950.

Listen to Leo Watson at Finetune.

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