Jazz Musician. Blues and jazz saxophonist. Born in Deland, Florida, he led the house band at Sugar Ray Robinson's club in Harlem and played on rock 'n' roll tours with Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. Before that he had performed at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where he played in the bands of Lionel Hampton and Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. He recorded a number of singles including the instrumental hits "Hard Times (the Slop)" in 1957 and "Jookin'" in 1961. He had also played with Lionel Hampton's orchestra and on rock 'n' roll package tours. Saxophonists from King Curtis to Bruce Springsteen sideman Clarence Clemons were influenced by his booming tenor sound. Watts attended Florida A&M University and played in the marching band with future jazz legends Cannonball and Nat Adderley. In the year 2000 Stetson University, where he raked leaves as a boy to pay for music lessons, awarded him an honorary doctorate. In May 2004 the African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand dedicated the Dr. Noble "Thin Man" Watts Amphitheater named for him. Died in Deland, Florida of complications from emphysema and pneumonia.
Jazz Musician. Blues and jazz saxophonist. Born in Deland, Florida, he led the house band at Sugar Ray Robinson's club in Harlem and played on rock 'n' roll tours with Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. Before that he had performed at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where he played in the bands of Lionel Hampton and Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams. He recorded a number of singles including the instrumental hits "Hard Times (the Slop)" in 1957 and "Jookin'" in 1961. He had also played with Lionel Hampton's orchestra and on rock 'n' roll package tours. Saxophonists from King Curtis to Bruce Springsteen sideman Clarence Clemons were influenced by his booming tenor sound. Watts attended Florida A&M University and played in the marching band with future jazz legends Cannonball and Nat Adderley. In the year 2000 Stetson University, where he raked leaves as a boy to pay for music lessons, awarded him an honorary doctorate. In May 2004 the African American Museum of the Arts in DeLand dedicated the Dr. Noble "Thin Man" Watts Amphitheater named for him. Died in Deland, Florida of complications from emphysema and pneumonia.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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