Untitled Document

GERAINT WATKINS
AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY

Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins was born in Abertridwr, South Wales, on the 2nd of February, 1951. Over a 25 year career Geraint Watkins has played with some of the great names in popular music. In the few years after leaving Portsmouth Art College, he was a member of noted bands Juice on the Loose and Red Beans & Rice. Session work followed; recording and playing live with Dave Edmonds and Shakin Stevens. A first solo album was released on Vertigo in 1978 entitled Geraint Watkins and the Dominators produced by Andy Fairweather-Low. The 1980s found Watkins playing accordion and piano with The Balham Alligators, a band that survives to this very day - (well nearly).

Watkins has contributed his soulful piano and organ to Nick Lowe's cause both on The Impossible Birds and on his Dig My Mood. Recording with Van Morrison on the sessions that produced Van's album Back on Top meant a busy time for Watkins and at the same time he released his second solo album, Watkins Bold As Love, on the Bluefive label, (BluefiveGWCD1). Produced by Neil Brockbank and Bobby Irwin, Watkins Bold as Love has found fans from Sweden to Australia and from Japan to the UK. Featuring Nick Lowe on bass, the record - and the man - has been described as "...unpretentious, uncomplicated and good natured; infused with a rare and refreshing sense of optimism and humour."

Geraint has appeared live with Van Morrison and Nick Lowe, while studio dates have included sessions with Paul McCartney. He joined Mark Knopfler in the line-up for the 2001 STP tour and for the July charity gigs in 2002. The CD liner notes to the Watkins Bold As Love album tell us that "...For nearly two decades Geraint Watkins has cast his benevolent musical shadow, on stage and record, behind many leading artists....For those not in the know, his name is synonymous with wild cajun/zydeco accordian and fierce rock'n'roll piano..."