Doug Watkins

Douglas Watkins (March 2, 1934 – February 5, 1962) was an American jazz double bassist. He was best known for being an accompanist to various hard bop artists in the Detroit area, including Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean.

Biography Watkins was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States. and freelanced with Gene Ammons, Kenny Burrell, Donald Byrd, Art Farmer, Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley,

Some of Watkins' best-known work can be heard, when as a 22-year-old, he appeared on the 1956 album Saxophone Colossus by tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, with Max Roach and Tommy Flanagan.

When Charles Mingus briefly ventured over to the piano stool in 1961, he hired Watkins to take over the bass part; Oh Yeah and Tonight at Noon were the results.

Watkins died in an automobile accident near Holbrook, Arizona, on February 5, 1962, while traveling from Arizona to San Francisco to meet drummer Philly Joe Jones for a gig.

Discography As leader 1956: Watkins at Large (Transition) 1960: Soulnik (New Jazz)

As sideman

With Pepper Adams Baritones and French Horns (Prestige, 1957) Critic's Choice (World Pacific, 1957) The Pepper-Knepper Quintet (MetroJazz, 1958) with Jimmy Knepper 10 to 4 at the 5 Spot (Riverside, 1958) With Gene Ammons Jammin' with Gene (Prestige, 1956) Funky (Prestige, 1957) Blue Gene (Prestige, 1958) Boss Tenor (Prestige, 1960) Velvet Soul (Prestige, 1960 ) Angel Eyes (Prestige, 1960 ) Nice an' Cool (Moodsville, 1961) Jug (Prestige, 1961) With Art Blakey At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 1 (Blue Note, 1955) At the Cafe Bohemia, Vol. 2 (Blue Note, 1955) Originally (Columbia, 1956 ) With Tina Brooks Minor Move (Blue Note, 1958) With Kenny Burrell All Night Long (Prestige, 1956) All Day Long (Prestige, 1957) Kenny Burrell (Prestige, 1957) K. B. Blues (Blue Note, 1957 ) 2 Guitars - with Jimmy Raney (Prestige, 1957) With Donald Byrd Byrd's Eye View (Transition, 1955) Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill (Transition, 1956) 2 Trumpets (Prestige, 1956) - with Art Farmer Jazz Eyes (Regent, 1957) - with John Jenkins Byrd in Paris (Brunswick, 1958) Parisian Thoroughfare (Brunswick, 1958) Fuego (Blue Note, 1959) Byrd in Flight (Blue Note, 1960) Chant (Blue Note, 1961) With John Coltrane Dakar (Prestige, 1957 ) With Tommy Flanagan The Cats (Prestige, 1957) With Curtis Fuller New Trombone (Prestige, 1957) With Red Garland Coleman Hawkins with the Red Garland Trio (Swingville, 1959) Satin Doll (Prestige, 1959 ) Rediscovered Masters (Prestige, 1959 ) With Benny Golson Gettin' with It (New Jazz, 1959) With Bill Hardman Saying Something (Savoy 1961) With Wilbur Harden Mainstream 1958 (Savoy, 1958) With Thad Jones Mad Thad (Period, 1957) Olio (Prestige, 1957) With Yusef Lateef Jazz for the Thinker (Savoy, 1957) Jazz Mood (Savoy, 1957) With Jackie McLean Presenting... Jackie McLean (Ad Lib, 1955) Lights Out! (Prestige, 1956) 4, 5 and 6 (Prestige, 1956) Jackie McLean & Co. (Prestige, 1957) Alto Madness (Prestige, 1957) - with John Jenkins Bluesnik (Blue Note, 1961) With Charles Mingus Oh Yeah (Atlantic, 1961) Tonight at Noon (Atlantic, 1961) With Hank Mobley Hank Mobley Quartet (Blue Note, 1955) The Jazz Message of Hank Mobley (Savoy, 1956) Mobley's Message (Prestige, 1956) Mobley's 2nd Message (Prestige, 1956) Jazz Message No. 2 (Savoy, 1956) Hank Mobley and his All Stars (Blue Note, 1957) Hank Mobley Quintet (Blue Note, 1957) With Lee Morgan Introducing Lee Morgan (Savoy, 1956) Candy (Blue Note, 1957) With The Prestige All Stars Wheelin' & Dealin' (Prestige, 1957) With Paul Quinichette On the Sunny Side (Prestige, 1957) With Dizzy Reece Soundin' Off (Blue Note, 1960) With Rita Reys The Cool Voice of Rita Reys (Columbia, 1956) With Sonny Rollins Saxophone Colossus (Prestige, 1956) Newk's Time (Blue Note, 1957) With Horace Silver Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers (Blue Note, 1955) Silver's Blue (Epic, 1956) 6 Pieces of Silver (Blue Note, 1956) With Louis Smith Here Comes Louis Smith (Blue Note, 1957) With Idrees Sulieman Roots (New Jazz, 1958) with the Prestige All Stars With Billy Taylor Interlude (Moodsville, 1961) With Phil Woods Pairing Off (Prestige, 1956)