Robert Bartha L. "Billy" Watkins (July 25, 1927 – January 24, 2010) was a gospel and song singer who later became a Christian minister. He was also founder of the gospel singing group, The Zion Travelers. He recorded for the Arwin, Challenge, Chess, Era, Imperial, Kent and Victor labels.

Background Watkins was born to parents Bartha Lillard Watkins and Priscilla Kinard on July 25, 1927.Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas 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.Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss

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.AllMusic - Zion Travelers, Biography by Jim Dunn 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.Billboard, April 24, 1954 - Page 43 Reviews of New Spiritual RecordsCatalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 8, Part 5B, Number 1, Unpublished Music, January - June 1954 - PAge 426 They also had recordings released in the 1960s. Watkins may no longer been a member by then.AllMusic - Zion Travelers, Biography by Jim Dunn

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.Billboard, October 5, 1959 - Page 37 SPECIAL MERIT SPOTLIGHTSFirst Pressings: 1959, Galen Gart - Page 148 Later he had another single released on Challenge. I was "Go Billy Go" bw "Good Times" in 1960.Global Dog Productions - Discography for Challenge Records The A side was co-written with Tony Hilder and Charles Wright.Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series, Volume 14, Part 5, Number 1, Music January - June, 1960 - Page 139, 1960, Current Registrations By October 1966, he had "Little Things Mean a Lot" out on the Chattahoochee label which was a Hot 100 prediction.Billboard, October 8, 1966 - Page 16 CHART Spotlights-Predicted to Reach the HOT 100 Chart

Around 1970, Watkins was in Japan. He had an album released there on the Japanese Victor label. The album was Golden Soul & Country.Billboard, February 28, 1970 - Page 61 From The Music Capitals of the World, TOKYO

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.Los Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss

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.Los Angeles Times, October 6, 2002 - Faithful Giver Receives Accolades for Years of Serving the Homeless By Erika HayasakiLos Angeles Times, December 23, 1997 - A Gospel-Soul Singer Is Now Preaching Godliness in His Music and Ministry - By Duncan Strauss

Death Watkins died at Centinela Hospital Medical Center Medical at Inglewood California on January 24, 2010.Blues: A Regional Experience, By Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc - Page 62 Ozark Highlands Arkansas

Discography

+ Singles Title Catalogue Year Notes # "Convince Me" / "This Is Me Loving You" Arwin 1958 "You're Unforgettable (After You've Been Kissed)" / "Rendezvous" Challenge 59056 1959 "The Good Times" / "Go Billy Go" Challenge 59078 1960 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA "Wanna Know" / "I Wanna Know" / "Where Is My Love" Chess 1786 1961 "Crackin' Up" / There Must Be a Reason" Chess 1810 1961 HitHistory - Chess 1950-1976 "My One And Only One" / "Calipso Twist) Tight Blue Jeans" Jay Ree 2206 1962 "Just For You (Stone Fox)" / "Beverly" Kent K 411X45 1964 "Baby For You (Stone Fox)" / "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 45Cat - Billy Watkins - Discography, USA "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

+ Albums Title Release info Year Notes # Golden Soul & Country Victor, JET JETLP 001 1970 A Family Gathering For God Tumps Music FGO 1978 Discogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums

+ Appears on 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 LifeDiscogs - Billy Watkins, Discography, Albums 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" MusicBrainz - Billy Watkins ~ Artist

References