Darren Watson
Encyclopedia
Darren Watson is a New Zealand
singer, songwriter
and guitarist
in a wide range of blues
styles.
Darren Watson was born in Wanganui
. His first musical experience was playing drum
s and trumpet
but he soon moved on to guitar and was playing in bars and clubs throughout his years at Hutt Valley High School (1980–83).
In 1985, he formed Chicago Smoke Shop with harmonica
player Terry Casey and, although Casey left the band in 1987, the band went on to record two charting LP
s and several radio hits. The group was also in big demand as a support act by international touring bands. Between 1987 and 1990, Smoke Shop (the 'Chicago' tag was eventually dropped) opened for NZ tours by Robert Cray
(twice), Koko Taylor
, George Thorogood
, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds
.
Since leaving Smoke Shop Watson has recorded three successful albums: King Size (2002), which was nominated for Best Roots Album at the 2003 New Zealand Music Awards
, South Pacific Soul (2005) which received favourable reviews from both local and international media, and Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy (2010).
In late April 2009 Darren won 1st place in the blues section of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, USA, with his song "All Going Wrong", a cut from South Pacific Soul. Judges for the competition included Tom Waits, James Cotton, John Mayall, and Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer. Watson has gone on to finish on the 'podium' in 2010, judged in 3rd in the blues category of the International Songwriting Competition for 'Can't Get Enough Of You'.
Watson's latest album Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy was released November 1, 2010 on Red Rocks Records.
In July 2011 Darren was selected to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Previous winners include Sean Costello and Suzan Tedeschi. The event takes place in February 2012.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
in a wide range of blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
styles.
Darren Watson was born in Wanganui
Wanganui
Whanganui , also spelled Wanganui, is an urban area and district on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region....
. His first musical experience was playing drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
but he soon moved on to guitar and was playing in bars and clubs throughout his years at Hutt Valley High School (1980–83).
In 1985, he formed Chicago Smoke Shop with harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player Terry Casey and, although Casey left the band in 1987, the band went on to record two charting LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
s and several radio hits. The group was also in big demand as a support act by international touring bands. Between 1987 and 1990, Smoke Shop (the 'Chicago' tag was eventually dropped) opened for NZ tours by Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
(twice), Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor
Koko Taylor sometimes spelled KoKo Taylor was an American Chicago blues musician, popularly known as the "Queen of the Blues." She was known primarily for her rough, powerful vocals and traditional blues stylings....
, George Thorogood
George Thorogood
George Thorogood is an American blues rock vocalist/guitarist from Wilmington, Delaware, United States, known for his hit song "Bad to the Bone" as well as for covers of blues standards such as Hank Williams' "Move It On Over" and John Lee Hooker's "House Rent Boogie/One Bourbon, One Scotch, One...
, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
The Fabulous Thunderbirds are an American, Grammy-nominated Blues rock band, formed in 1974.-Career:After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas blues scene, the band won a recording contract with Takoma/Chrysalis Records, and later on signed with Epic Records.Their first two albums,...
.
Since leaving Smoke Shop Watson has recorded three successful albums: King Size (2002), which was nominated for Best Roots Album at the 2003 New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
, South Pacific Soul (2005) which received favourable reviews from both local and international media, and Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy (2010).
In late April 2009 Darren won 1st place in the blues section of the prestigious International Songwriting Competition in Nashville, USA, with his song "All Going Wrong", a cut from South Pacific Soul. Judges for the competition included Tom Waits, James Cotton, John Mayall, and Alligator Records president Bruce Iglauer. Watson has gone on to finish on the 'podium' in 2010, judged in 3rd in the blues category of the International Songwriting Competition for 'Can't Get Enough Of You'.
Watson's latest album Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy was released November 1, 2010 on Red Rocks Records.
In July 2011 Darren was selected to compete at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. Previous winners include Sean Costello and Suzan Tedeschi. The event takes place in February 2012.
| Discography | As a leader | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Smoke Shop | Self-titled | 1989 | |
| Smoke Shop | So Glad | 1990 | |
| Smoke Shop | Fusion At Room Temperature (Best Of) | 1996 | |
| Darren Watson | Overnight Sensations | 1998 | |
| Darren Watson | King Size | 2002 | |
| Darren Watson | South Pacific Soul | 2005 | |
| Darren Watson | Saint Hilda's Faithless Boy | 2010 |
| Discography | As a sideman | |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Lake | Home Truths | 1996 |
| Marg Layton | Trouble Then Satisfaction | 1998 |
| Various Artists | The Underwatermelon Man | 1999 |
| Midge Marsden | Travel N' Time | 2006 |