Charlie Watts is a legendary musician who played drums for one of the most influential rock bands of all time, The Rolling Stones.
He is also a talented graphic artist and a devoted jazz fan, leading his band in performing a wide range of music styles. His skills, style, professionalism and humble personality are admired.
He died in 2021 at the age of 80, leaving behind a musical and artistic legacy that spans six decades.
contour
- Full name: Charles Robert Watts
- Nickname: Charlie
- Date of Birth: June 2, 1941
- Age: 80 (at the time of death)
- Gender: Male
- Birthplace: Bloomsbury, London, England
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Musician, graphic artist
- Height: 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm)
- Parents: Charles Richard Watts (father), Lillian Charlotte Eaves (mother)
- Siblings: Linda Watts (sister)
- Spouse: Shirley Sheppard (married 1964)
- Children: Serafina Watts (daughter)
- Marital status: Widowed (2021-present)
- Net worth: $250 million
Early life and education
Charlie Watts was born on June 2, 1941 in Bloomsbury, London, the son of Charles Richard Watts, a truck driver, and Lillian Charlotte Eaves, a factory worker.
He grew up in the London suburb of Wembley and attended Taylorcroft Modern Secondary School.
He was interested in music, especially jazz, from an early age and learned to play drums by listening to records and practicing with a makeshift kit.
He also showed a talent for drawing and painting, and won a scholarship to study at Harrow School of Art.
He later attended the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts, where he obtained a diploma in graphic design.
Personal life
Charlie Watts and sculptor Shirley Shepherd met in 1961 and married in 1964.
In 1968, they had a daughter, Seraphina, who gave them a granddaughter, Charlotte, in 1996. The couple lived on a country estate in Devon, England, where they kept horses and dogs.
They also own a flat in London and a house in France. Like some of his bandmates, Watts is a devoted husband who never cheats on his wife.
He was also a loving, supportive father and grandfather who loved spending time with his family.
Profession
Charlie Watts began his career as a graphic artist, working for an advertising agency and designing album covers for several jazz artists.
He also played drums for Blues Incorporated, a blues band led by Alexis Korner, where he met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who would later form the Rolling Stones.
After initially turning down their offer, he joined the Rolling Stones in 1963 and became the band’s permanent drummer.
He was the only member of the Rolling Stones who never changed instruments and was known for his steady, reliable beats and elegant, understated style.
He was also the oldest and most sober member of the band, not as addicted to drugs and alcohol as his colleagues.
His professionalism and integrity have earned the respect and admiration of fellow musicians, critics and fans.
Watts also pursued his love of jazz and formed his own jazz bands such as the Charlie Watts Quintet, the Charlie Watts Decat, and the Boogie-Woogie ABC&D Band.
He has performed with many jazz legends including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, and recorded several albums in genres including swing, bebop, and blues.
He also worked on various projects with artists such as Jim Keltner, Bill Wyman and Ronnie Wood. He also continued to work as a graphic designer and designed stage sets and logos for the Rolling Stones’ tours and albums.
He also published several books, such as Ode to High Flying Bird, a tribute to Charlie Parker, and The Rolling Stones: An Illustrated History, a collection of his drawings and paintings.
Watts continued to play for the Rolling Stones until his death in 2021 and participated in the band’s “No Filter Tour,” which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also plans to release a new album with his jazz band Charlie Watts Organ Trio in 2022. On August 24, 2021, he died in a London hospital surrounded by his family.
He was 80 years old and had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2004. His bandmates mourned his death, saying he “The greatest drummer of his generation” and the praise from the music industry”Rock idol“.
Awards
Charlie Watts has received many awards and honors for his music and art, such as:
- In 1989 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with the Rolling Stones.
- Inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 2006.
- Inducted into the Jazz FM Hall of Fame in 2016.
- 2014 Gold Badge Award from the UK Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
- 2017 Jazz FM Awards Outstanding Contribution to Music Award.
- 2018 Echo Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award
- In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
net worth
Charlie Watts’ net worth is estimated to be $250 million. Most of his wealth comes from his music career with the Rolling Stones and his solo and jazz projects.
He also has a large collection of valuable art, antiques and cars, and owns several properties in the UK and France.
die
Charlie Watts died on August 24, 2021, at the age of 80, in a London hospital where he was being treated for an unspecified illness.
He had previously announced that he would not be participating in the Rolling Stones’ rescheduled No Filter Tour due to the coronavirus pandemic, with his long-time friend and collaborator Steve Jordan set to perform in his place.
His death was announced by his publicist, Bernard Doherty, who said: “Passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.”.
His bandmates Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood expressed their grief and sorrow on social media and paid tribute to their friend and colleague.
His fans and admirers shared their condolences and memories and celebrated his life and legacy.
dispute
Unlike some of his bandmates, Charlie Watts has not been involved in much controversy, rumors, or scandal.
He was generally considered to be calm and quiet, keeping his personal life private and avoiding media attention.
However, he did have some headline-grabbing incidents, such as:
- Watts punched Jagger in the face after he referred to him as “my drummer” during a drunken phone call in 1984. Watts reportedly dressed, walked into Jagger’s hotel room and told him, “Stop calling me your drummer. You’re my f**king singer,” before hitting him.
- In 1986, he was arrested for drug possession in Atlanta, Georgia, along with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood. He was released on bail and the charges were later dropped.
Social Media
- Instagram: No
- Twitter: No
Filmography
Charlie Watts has appeared in many films and documentaries, either as himself or as a voice actor, such as:
- Charlie Is My Love (1966) is a documentary about the Rolling Stones’ Irish tour.
- Gimme Shelter (1970) is a documentary about the Rolling Stones’ 1969 American tour and the Altamont Freedom Concert.
- Cocksucker Blues (1972) is an unreleased documentary about the Rolling Stones’ 1972 US tour.
- The Last Waltz (1978) is a concert film about the Rolling Stones’ farewell show, featuring cameos by the Stones and other artists.
- Let’s Spend the Night Together (1982), a concert film about the Rolling Stones’ 1981 US tour.
- Shine a Light (2008) is a concert film about the Rolling Stones’ 2006 performance at the Beacon Theatre, directed by Martin Scorsese.
- Crossfire Hurricane (2012) is a documentary about the history of the Rolling Stones.
- The Quiet Man (2019) is a documentary about the life and career of Bill Wyman that includes interviews with the Rolling Stones and other musicians.
- The Burnt Orange Heresy (2019), a thriller in which he voiced the character of Alfred.
- The Beatles: The Return (2021), a documentary about the making of the Beatles album Let It Be.
Discography
Charlie Watts has released several albums with the Rolling Stones, as well as his solo and jazz projects, such as:
- With the Rolling Stones: He has appeared on all of the band’s studio, live and compilation albums, from their debut album, The Rolling Stones (1964) to their latest album, Blue and Lonely (2016). Their most notable albums include Beggars Banquet (1968), Let It Bleed (1969), Sticky Fingers (1971), Exile on Main Street (1972), Some Girls (1978), Tattoo You (1981), Wheels of Steel (1989), Voodoo Lounge (1994), Bridges to Babylon (1997) and A Bigger Bang (2005).
- With the Charlie Watts Quintet: He released five albums with his jazz quintet, which includes Peter King (saxophone), Gerard Pressenthal (trumpet), Brian Lemon (piano), Dave Green (bass) and Bernard Fowler (vocals). The albums are From a Charlie (1991), A Tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings (1992), Long Ago and Far Away (1996), Warm and Tender (1993) and The Magic of Boogie Woogie (2010).
- With the Charlie Watts Band: He released two albums with his jazz band, which featured the same members as the quintet, plus Anthony Kerr (vibraphone), Henry Loesser (trumpet), Evan Parker (saxophone), and Alan Skidmore (saxophone). The two albums were Watts at Scott (2004) and Live at the 606 Club (2007).
- With the Boogie-Woogie ABC&D Band: He released an album with his Boogie-Woogie Quartet, which includes Axel Zwingenberger (piano), Ben Waters (piano), Dave Green (bass) and himself (drums). The album is Live in Paris (2012).
- Collaboration with other artists: He has also appeared as a guest or collaborator on several albums by different artists, such as Rocket 88 (1981) by Rocket 88, The London Howlin’ Wolf Sessions (1971) by Howlin’ Wolf, Jamming with Edward! (1972) by Nicky Hopkins, Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, Charlie Watts Meets the Danish Radio Big Band (2017) by Charlie Watts and the Danish Radio Big Band, and Charlie Watts/Jim Keltner Project (2000) by Charlie Watts and Jim Keltner.
books
Charlie Watts has published several books, mostly related to his art and music, such as:
- Ode to a High Flying Bird (1964) is a tribute to Charlie Parker, featuring his drawings and words.
- The Rolling Stones: An Illustrated History (1984), a collection of his drawings and paintings of the band and its tours.
- Charlie Watts’s Jazz, Blues and Boogie Woogie (1991) is a book about his jazz influences and projects, with his illustrations and photographs.
- According to Rolling Stone magazine (2003), a book on the history of the Rolling Stones included interviews with band members and his artwork.
- Charlie Watts: Modernist (2018), a book about his style and fashion, with his photographs and commentary.
