Robin Watson

Robin Watson's musical journey is a compelling narrative shaped by family, church, and influential peer mentorship within Birmingham's vibrant gospel scene.

His earliest musical experiences were profoundly influenced by his older brother, Vindel, a multi-instrumentalist who introduced him to the bass guitar. Church played a monumental role in his development, providing a platform to play alongside experienced musicians. He humorously recalls Vindel’s strictness, threatening to “take the base off you” when Robin added too much flair to a hymn.

His musical education continued at school, where he formed a group with Dave Gibbons (drums) and Dennis Jarrett (piano) at age fourteen or fifteen. They composed original tunes inspired by jazz fusion artists like Lee Ritenour and Marcus Miller, recording their improvisations on cassettes. These self-directed sessions, involving constant rewinding and re-listening, “trained my ear to be reasonably good.” Their school performances, including a “caterpillar tune,” surprised teachers and led to an invitation to play at Birmingham Town Hall, a significant achievement for inner-city kids alongside private school peers.

Robin’s influences extended beyond his brother to include Colin Peters, whom he considers his “hero” and a major influence on his bass playing, introducing him to Marcus Miller. He also credits Bunny, the drummer, and Merrick, his brother, for continuously providing him with music and cassettes. This constant influx of music from multiple mentors, including Peter Campbell from Regent Street, nurtured his developing ear.

He later played in Joy Watson’s Mass Choir, admiring her pioneering and passionate directing style. He then joined “Plain Truth,” a group that “unashamedly” aimed to emulate the funky gospel sound of Commissioned. Plain Truth, which included Paul Reid and Lindsley Campbell, actively worked to intermingle denominations, bringing together diverse groups like Alliance (a Seventh-day Adventist a cappella group) and Jennifer Phillips. Despite facing some initial resistance to inter-church mixing, Plain Truth successfully hosted sold-out concerts at Aberdeen Street, fostering unity and showcasing diverse talent.

After Plain Truth disbanded, Robin played for his sister Hazel Watson’s band, a powerful singer whose discipline pushed him to improve. He played with top musicians like Trevor Prince and Winston Harris in her band. After Hazel’s passing and a fourteen-year hiatus from playing bass professionally, Maxine Brooks encouraged his return, leading to his gradual re-engagement with music. He praises influential musicians like Lindsley Campbell, Ian Reed, and Darren Williams. Robin also played for the group “Wesley” and champions intermingling churches, a concept his parents’ generation unfortunately “didn’t see the value of.”