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Johnny Watson Jr. and the Watson Blues Band

Johnny Watson Jr. was born in Gastonia, NC in 1947. Like many blues musicians from the south, Johnny had his first musical training in church where his mother was the choir leader. While attending school, he won a singing contest and as a teenager he became a member of the Gospel Tones, singing with them in the Gastonia area. In 1969, Johnny moved to Providence where his sister was living, and made it his home. Johnny soon attracted the attention of local performers like the COD Blues Band and B. Willlie Smith. Lynne Harrison, who at the time was performing at The Call, invited Johnny to sing with her. Attending the concert was booking agent Captain Carl, who suggested that Johnny create his own band. "Johnny Watson Jr. and the New Decade Band" was born and so was Johnny's career as a band leader. Their first album "Bringing down the House" came out in 1993 and the songs "Touch of Love" and "But I'm a Poor Boy"on this album can still be heard on Sirius, BB King's Bluesville and other blues stations.
In 2014, "the Johnny Watson Jr. and the Watson Blues Band" was formed and released a CD in 2015.
Johnny's favorite blues performers are Johnnie Taylor, Jimmy Reed and Bobby Womack.
Besides covering some of his favorite performers' music, Johnny continues to create his own tunes and to inspire other musicians.
Jim Corwin, guitar, Tommy Reed, Bass, Chris Turner, harmonica and backup vocals, Jack Moore, drums, Al Dziedzic, Saxophone, Mark Taber, keyboards and Winnie Lambrecht on washboard, will accompany Johnny at Sandywoods.