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Geraint Watkins (born Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins, 5 February 1951), is a rock and roll pianist and accordionist backing artistes such as; Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney, Roy St. John and Shakin' Stevens. He has also returned to a solo career, issued a number of albums under his own name, the latest being ''In A Bad Mood''. ==Biography== Watkins was born in Abertridwr, near Caerphilly, Wales. After time in the early 1970s at Portsmouth Art College, he returned to Cardiff and played with Red Beans And Rice and Juice on the Loose. The band, Red Beans And Rice, attracted attention and moved to London to further their career.〔Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Country Music'', Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0236-4, p. 26〕 When they disbanded Watkins played solo performances in London's pubs and with various bands, such as Southside United (with which he recorded an album),〔"The Southside Story" http://www.southsideunited.co.uk/index.php〕 the Cable Layers, Klondike Pete and the Huskies, the band of Southend's, Micky Jupp on the 'Be Stiff Route 78' tour.〔 He went on to record an album, ''Geraint Watkins & The Dominators'' (1979), produced by Andy Fairweather Low. Session work followed: recording and/or performing with Dr. Feelgood, Rory Gallagher, Andy Fairweather-Low, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Blues Band, Box of Frogs, The Stray Cats, Carl Perkins, Crazy Cavan'n'The Rhythm Rockers and Eric Clapton amongst others. The 1980s and beyond found Watkins playing accordion and piano with The Balham Alligators, a band that has helped to keep the music of Louisiana alive in London's pubs, of which he is a founding member.〔 Throughout the 1980s he also was a mainstay in Dave Edmunds's band, both recording and touring with him. Between 1984 and 1989 Watkins played piano and accordion on five records of the Dutch band Normaal. He contributed vocals, piano and accordion to Klondike Pete and the Huskies' 1981 album "Some of the Fellers" and appears, as Lightning Wanson G, on their 2010 album "Who Axed You". In recent years Watkins has found time to work with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings; contributing to Nick Lowe albums, ''The Impossible Bird'' (1994), ''Dig My Mood'' (1998), ''The Convincer'' (2001), ''Untouched Takeaway'' (2004) and ''At My Age'' (2007); and to Van Morrison albums, ''Back on Top'' (1999), ''Down the Road'' (2002), ''Pay the Devil'' (2006) and ''Keep It Simple'' (2008). As well as an early vinyl LP with The Dominators, Watkins has released three solo albums ''Watkins - Bold As Love'' (1997), ''Dial W For Watkins'' (2004) and ''In A Bad Mood'' (2008). Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine said of ''Dial W For Watkins'', "It's slight on the surface – the love songs are sweet and short, there are lots of ragged edges and lots of jokes – but that's its appeal: it's warm, friendly, engaging music, perfect for a relaxing evening at home with old friends." Kerry Doole of ''Exclaim!'' called it "an unassuming but delightful effort." Jason MacNeil of PopMatters suggested that Watkins' proficiency in a multitude of music genres "is what makes this album so bloody special." ''Billboard'' contributor Paul Sexton wrote that ''In a Bad Mood'' "displays Watkins' love for vintage R&B but also has more surprising sorties into chanson and cajun."〔 〕 Sexton ranked it as the number one album of 2008 on his year-end list; ''Billboard'' deputy global editor Tom Ferguson listed the album at number two.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 2008 Billboard Critics Top 10s )〕 In 2009 and 2011, Watkins toured with Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings as keyboard and accordion player and singer. He toured with Peter Green & Friends as a keyboard player in 2010. Watkins also toured with, and opened for, Nick Lowe, as a keyboardist. In 2014 he played accordion on Status Quo's ''Aquostic (Stripped Bare)'' album. This was also featured, on 22 October 2014, as a live concert from The Roundhouse on BBC Radio 2 and on BBC television via the red button. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Geraint Watkins」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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