CHARLIE WATTS (1941 - 2021)

Charlie Watts, the low-key yet vibrant drummer for "the World's Greatest Rock & Roll Band", the Rolling Stones, passed away on August 24th at the age of eighty. There has been no cause of death disclosed but Watts had been suffering from some health issues over the last few years including throat cancer in 2004. The British musician joined the Stones a year after they formed in 1962 and remained with the band until his passing, even planning on performing with the Stones on their current No Filter tour (and had never missed a show when the band was on the road throughout his career) but had to withdraw due to his failing health.

Watts's first love was jazz and was given a drum set by his parents when he was fourteen, learning to play by drumming along with the recordings of "Jelly Roll" Morton and Charlie Parker. Although he attended art school, planning on becoming a graphic designer, Watts still played drums occasionally with jazz and r&b bands in local clubs. In 1961, Watts joined the blues band, Blues Incorporated but was practical by keeping a day job with an advertising firm during his time with the group.

Watts met members of the scrappy blues-soul band, The Rolling Stones, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, early in their formation. They pursued him for a while before Watts finally agreed and made his first appearance as a Stone at the Ealing Blues Club in 1963. With Andrew Loog Oldman becoming their manager, Stewart was forced out and he pushed for the band's image as rock & roll bad boys. It seemed to work as the Stones first reached the UK pop charts with "I Wanna Be Your Man" in 1964, followed by hit covers of Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" and Bobby & Shirley Womack's "It's All Over Now".

Watts' jazz-influenced drumming style helped transform the sound of the Rolling Stones, making their music swing in a way not typical in rock. And while he was part of a very popular rock & roll band, Watts never gave up his love of jazz, forming his own band, the Charlie Watts Orchestra in 1986 and releasing a live jazz album. He later put together a smaller group called the Charlie Watts Quintet which he toured and recorded with throughout the 1990's. Watts also did not give up with his artistic endeavors, having designed some album covers and helped create the stages for the Stones' concerts over the years.

Watts had a love/hate relationship with his participation with the band; while he loved playing with his mates, he had no desire to become a pop star, staying out of the spotlight outside of performing as much as possible. When the Rolling Stones where inducted in to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, the drummer did not attend the ceremony. Watts is survived by his wife, Shirley, who he married in 1964, and their daughter, Serafina.