Doug Watkins Bass March 2, 1934 -- February 5, 1962

Doug Watkins

"Doug Watkins was simply the perfect bassist. He had the musical gift to be able to play exactly the right note in a chord at the right time to compliment the soloist."

--Kenny Washington

Doug Watkins was born in Detroit in 1934. He first left to tour with James Moody in 1953, then returned to play with Barry Harris's trio in 1954. This association enabled him to accompany such visiting musicians as Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, and Coleman Hawkins. In 1954 he performed in New York with Kenny Dorham and Hank Mobley, worked at Minton's Playhouse, and joined the Jazz Messengers. He left the group in 1956 to play with Horace Silver's quintet.

His prolific work as a freelance for Prestige included recordings with Gene Ammons, Sonny Rollins, Phil Woods, Mobley, Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, and Kenny Burrell. Thereafter Watkins took part in performances and recordings by Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop when Mingus was playing piano. He died in an automobile accident in 1962.

--DIANNA RHYAN, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz

A selected discography of Doug Watkins albums.

• Watkins At Large, 1956, Transition.
• Soulnik, 1960, Prestige.

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