John M. Watson Sr.

Watson was born in Albany, New York on January 10, 1937. His father was a musician who was known as an outstanding piano player, often subbing for the great Art Tatum. His mother was a college athlete and singer. Watson was raised in Middletown, Ohio. He graduated from Middletown High School in 1954, where he was a member of the band. After serving four years in the United States Army he attended Miami University where he also met his wife of 44 years, Virginia. They had had three sons and two daughters. Watson majored in Music Education and graduated in 1962. Watson was a member of the Miami University marching band, the orchestra, and the concert band. He also led his own band on the campus of Miami, performing often for various campus functions. He was also a member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, and of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

After graduation in 1962, he planned to travel to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of being a musician, but stopped in Chicago to see a family member and never left. Shortly after arriving in Chicago, he joined the Red Saunders Band, which was the 17 piece house band at the historic Regal Theater. Watson played with the band, his first day being the day that Stevie Wonder recorded his first song - Fingertips - which was recorded live at the Regal. Watson was also on other famous live recordings from the Regal Theater, including Gene Chandler's Rainbow '65. He also traveled with various Motown acts including Marvin Gaye and the Four Tops. During this time he was a part of several recordings from artists such as Jack Mc Duff, James Cotton, Barbara Acklin and Etta James. Watson also worked as a band teacher during this time at Du Sable, Dunbar and CVS high schools.

In 1968 he joined the band at Jesse Jackson's Operation Breadbasket, led by Ben Branch. Watson would later serve as the musical director of Operation Push, and continued to play in the band until the late 70s. In 1969 he played with the Jackson Five until 1970, when he joined the Count Basie Band, about which he said "other than going to heaven I can't think of anything better". By this time, two of his children had been born. Weary from being on the road 50 weeks out of the year and away from his family, he left the band in late 1972.

Upon returning from the road, he worked at Manley High School as the band director. Manley had been an upper grade center that was becoming a high school. Watson started the band from scratch, and turned it into one of the most successful high school bands in Chicago. He was one of the most popular teachers at Manley. In 1982 he left Manley and went to Hirsch High School as the band director. He retired in 1996. Of course he continued to perform around Chicago, first with bassist Cleveland Eaton, a longtime colleague who had since left the Ramsey Lewis trio. His roster of acts he has played with is a veritable who's who in jazz music and includes Von Freeman, Franz Jackson, the Ellington Dynasty, Sonny Stitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, and many others.

In 1987 Watson was asked to audition for a lottery commercial in Chicago. He got the job, and the commercial was voted as the most popular in Chicago. This began his acting career. Later that year, he took a role as Cutler, the bandleader in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. The play became the highest grossing play in Chicago that year, and featured a young Harry Lennix. He had several theater roles over the years, including Two Train's Running, I'm Not Rappaport, and the Lion and the Jewel. He was also in the Steppenwolf Theater production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which starred Gary Sinise. After a successful run at the Steppenwolf, the play ran for nine months on Broadway, and six months in London. Watson also was a Joseph Jefferson Award Winner for his work as Musical Director of Duke Ellington's Play "Jump for Joy" which had a successful run at the Royal George Theater.

Watson's first movie role was as Harold Monroe in the 1990 movie Opportunity Knocks starring Dana Carvey. He had 13 movies to his credit, including key roles as Bones Roosevelt in The Fugitive, the Bartender in Groundhog Day, and Uncle Pete in Soul Food. He also made television appearances in The Untouchables and Early Edition, and appeared in numerous television and radio commercials.

Watson died on September 7, 2006 of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.[1]

• John M. Watson Sr. at IMDb