Billy Watkins (musician)
Billy Watkins was a gospel and soul singer who later became a Christian minister. He was also founder of the gospel singing group, The Zion Travelers.
Background
Watkins was born to parents Bartha Lillard Watkins and Priscilla Kinard on July 25, 1927. When he was 11 years old, he and his family The family moved to California. A short time later Watkins was working in a barber shop shining shoes. While working there he met Nat King Cole who would have a significant influence on him. He was also a member of the gospel group, The Zion Travelers.Music career
The Zion Travelers
Known as Bartha L. Watkins, he was a member The Zion Travelers, a group that was formed in 1944 and first recorded in late 1947. Watkins was one of the lead singers. The other was L.C. Cohen. Other members were Tenors, L.W. Van and Garland Fate Mason, baritone singer Wesley Sherman and bass singer Felton Vernon. The group also recorded in the 1950s on Sultan Records and Aladdin Records. In 1954, they had a single "Moving Up King's Highway" bw "Where Is My Wandering Child" out on Score 5054. The B side was composed by Wakkins. They also had recordings released in the 1960s. Watkins may no longer been a member by then.Solo
By October 1959, Wakins had a record out on the Challenge label. The record "You're Unforgettable" bw "Rendezvous" which Billboard predicted could do well was charting locally that year. Later he had another single released on Challenge. I was "Go Billy Go" bw "Good Times" in 1960. The A side was co-written with Tony Hilder and Charles Wright. By October 1966, he had "Little Things Mean a Lot" out on the Chattahoochee label which was a Hot 100 prediction.Around 1970, Watkins was in Japan. He had an album released there on the Japanese Victor label. The album was Golden Soul & Country.
Having toured throughout the United States, Europe, the Orient and Australia, and having some chart success, it was in the early 1970s that he decided to make a change both musically and spiritually. So when he got back to the US, he decided to stay with gospel music.
Ministry
He would later become an ordained pastor and establish the Freedom of Spirit Church, a non-denominational church in South Central Los Angeles. He also appeared regularly on television at Los Angeles' Christian television station KAGL.Death
Watkins died at Centinela Hospital Medical Center Medical at Inglewood California on January 24, 2010.Discography
| Title | Catalogue | Year | Notes # |
| "Convince Me" / "This Is Me Loving You" | Arwin | 1958 | |
| "You're Unforgettable Tight Blue Jeans" | Jay Ree 2206 | 1962 | |
| "Just For You " / "Beverly" | Kent K 411X45 | 1964 | |
| "Baby For You " / "I'm Tired" | Chartmaker 405 | 1966 | |
| "Little Things Mean A Lot" / "I'm Somebody's Love" | Chattahoochee CH-712 | 1966 | |
| "The Ice-Man" / "The Blue And Lonely" | Era 3183 | 1967 | |
| "Echoes" / "Somebody's Love" | Imperial 66371 | 1969 | |
| "I'm Somebody's Love" / "Little Things Mean A Lot" | Robell 1001 | ||
| "The Rooster Smash" / "Gotta Have A Thing Going" | Jay Ree 101 | ||
| "Baby For You" / "I'm Tired" | Robell 2000 / 2001 | ||
| "The Ice-Man" / "The Blue And Lonely" | Era Back To Back Hits Series 45-BSN-624 | ||
| "Mother Of The Universe" / "When I Have Gone The Last Mile Of The Way" | Mother Of The Universe MOU-001 | ||
| "Merry Christmas To God" / "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel" | Tempe Records T-106 | ||
| "Judgements Comin'" / "Are You My Redeeming Saviour" | Schnipple - Up BW 001 |
| Title | Release info | Year | Notes # |
| Golden Soul & Country | Victor, JET JETLP 001 | 1970 | |
| A Family Gathering For God | Tumps Music FGO | 1978 |
| Act | Album title | Catalogue | Year | Song | Notes # |
| Various artists | Spiritual Bread For The Aquarian Age | Tumps Music | 197? | "The Lord Will Set You Free" "The Last Mile Of The Way" | Billy Watkins, The Spice of Life |
| Various artists | For Connoisseurs Only, Volume 2 | Kent Soul CDKEND 251 | 2005 | "Love Line" | |
| Various artists | For Connoisseurs Only, Volume 3 | Kent Soul CDKEND 281 | 2007 | "Beverly" |