Helen Watson | |
---|---|
Origin | Manchester, England |
Genres | Folk,blues,soul,jazz, pop |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1960s–present |
Labels | EMI/Columbia,RCA Records, Building Records,Fledg'ling Records |
Website | Official website |
Helen Watson is an English singer-songwriter.[1][2] Her music encompassesblues,soul,jazz, pop andfolk.
Born inManchester, she began performing on the folk-club circuit during the late 1960s whilst working as a teacher inManchester. During the 1970s and 1980s she was a singer with blues band Loose Lips and a member of the Manchester quartet Well Knit Frames,[3] which also included Martin McGroarty (who would become her regular writing partner). Watson was also a backing singer withCarmel on an extensive world tour.[4] She sang on several ofSuns of Arqa's early LPs (Musical Revue,Wadada Magic,India?) which were released between 1983 and 1984.[5]
Watson made a demo tape with McGroarty which found its way toKeith Hopwood at Pluto Music. Hopwood signed Watson and introduced her to music publisher and managerDeke Arlon. Soon afterwards, Watson signed withEMI Records, releasing her debut albumBlue Slipper in 1987.[3][6] Produced byGlyn Johns, the record featured contributions from various notable musicians includingBill Payne,Richie Hayward,Paul Barrere,George Hawkins,Michael Landau,Steve Lukather andBernie Leadon[3] (the first time that members ofLittle Feat had played together since the death ofLowell George).
A second album,The Weather Inside, came out in 1989, again produced byGlyn Johns with the same cast of session musicians and featuringAndy Fairweather-Low.[7] Whilst signed toEMI, Watson toured supportingJoe Cocker andBlack.
Watson signed toRCA for 1992'sCompanion Gal, which was recorded at theRockfield Studios in Wales.[8]Andy Fairweather-Low once again lent his talents, as didBrinsley Schwarz.[3] In support of the album, Watson played shows at the Half Moon inPutney, theBand on the Wall and London's Tenor Clef. Lack of interest at the record company meant Watson's days working with major labels came to an end shortly afterwards.[3]
She spent the next three years working withChristine Collister,Barb Jungr and Michael Parker as part ofHell Bent Heaven Bound,[9] which toured the United States, Canada and Europe (and released an album of songs from the show in 1993). Watson also formed an all-female group calledDaphne's Flight,[10] (withChristine Collister,Melanie Harrold,Julie Matthews andChris While), releasing an eponymous album in 1995.
In the ensuing decade, Watson released several albums which were mostly acoustic folk music, and toured the UK regularly. She continued to work with other artists, notablyEmmylou Harris andLinda Ronstadt on their 1999 albumWestern Wall: The Tucson Sessions. Watson also producedChristine Collister's 1996 albumBlue Aconite and appeared on releases by Ashley Hutchings.[citation needed]
In December 2006, Watson completed another tour of smaller venues in the UK, including shows with David Hughes andChristine Collister. From March to May 2007, she toured as singer with Snake Davis's band Burden of Paradise[11][12] before returning to solo shows in July of that year. In 2008, she released the albumHeadrest. Two years later she released an EP,Fiver with five original songs.[citation needed]