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Biff Watson

{{Infobox musical artist

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| name = Biff Watson

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| birth_name = Fletcher Bangs Watson V

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| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1952}}

| birth_place = Virginia, U.S.

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| genre = Rock music, country music

| occupation = Musician

| instrument = Vocals, guitar

| years_active = 1971–present

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| past_member_of = Tennessee Pulleybone

| website = {{URL|biffbangs.com}}

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Fletcher Bangs "Biff" Watson (born 1952) is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. His musicianship has been a part of recording sessions for many artists.{{cite book |last=Mayor|first=Alan|date=November 18, 2014|title=The Nashville Family Album: A Country Music Scrapbook|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=9781466885677|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1jGlBAAAQBAJ|access-date=October 22, 2017}}

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Biography

=Early years=

Raised in Chatham, Virginia,{{cite web |url=http://www.chatham-va.gov/local-artists|title=Writers, Artists, and Craftspeople|work=Town of Chatham|access-date=October 23, 2017}} Watson learned how to play guitar at age 11. Upon graduation from high school, he hitchhiked to Nashville where he played on demos and showcases, and backing up touring artists Crystal Gayle,{{cite news|last1=staff|title=Crystal Gayle: 'a shining lady'|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/157192705/|access-date=October 23, 2017|work=The Morning News|date=June 17, 1978}} Tracy Nelson, and Don Williams.{{cite web |url=https://www.victorianvilla.com/sims-mitchell/local/watson/fb5/cmac1/|title=Biff Watson: Perfect Acoustics|work=CMA Close Up|access-date=October 22, 2017|author=Phil Sweetland|date=March 1, 2002

}}

=Recording session work and production=

Watson focused on session work for producers such as Emory Gordy Jr.{{cite web |url=http://www.countrystandardtime.com/news/newsitem.asp?xid=1905|title=Patty Loveless readies new CD|work=Country Standard Time|access-date=October 23, 2017|date=July 10, 2008}} and Garth Fundis, and eventually branched out into record production.{{cite web |url=https://www.hookist.com/biff-watsons-5-ts-for-studio-work/|title=Biff Watson's 5 "T"s for studio work|access-date=October 22, 2017|date=July 29, 2015}}

Watson has worked with artists such as Dusty Springfield,{{cite book |last=Howes|first=Paul|date=2001|title=The Complete Dusty Springfield|publisher=Reynolds & Hearn |isbn=9781903111246|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJgFAAAACAAJ|access-date=October 22, 2017}} George Strait,{{cite web |url=http://www.bestcountrysingers.com/george-strait/albums/prg-ipC274626.html|title=George Strait Album: "One Step at a Time"|work=Best Country Singers|access-date=October 23, 2017}} Dolly Parton,{{cite book |last=Cardwell|first=Nancy|date=July 22, 2011|title=The Words and Music of Dolly Parton: Getting to Know Country's "Iron Butterfly"|publisher=Abc-Clio |isbn=9780313378041|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DVqsWsJyAWIC|access-date=October 22, 2017}} Toby Keith,{{cite book

|last=Bishop|first=Rand|date=2010|title=The Absolute Essentials of Songwriting Success: From Song Dog to Top Dog : Making it in the Music Business|publisher=Alfred Music |isbn=9780739071915|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=whWmcQAACAAJ|access-date=October 23, 2017}} Sara Evans,{{cite book |last=Woodstra|first=Chris|author2=John Bush|author3= Stephen Thomas Erlewine|date=2008|title=Contemporary Country|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=9780879309183|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=un4pXwGNcDUC&q="biff+watson"+producer|access-date=October 23, 2017}} and Shania Twain.{{cite book |last=Eggar|first=Robin|date=June 15, 2010|title=Shania Twain: The Biography|publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=9781451604542|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sh-levpCt-IC|access-date=October 22, 2017}}

=Collaborations=

Don Williams' backing band "The Scratch Band" included Watson, Danny Flowers, Dave Pomeroy, and Pat McInerney.{{cite news|last1=Tuber|first1=Keith|title=The Gentle Giant of Country: Don Williams|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BPwDAAAAMBAJ|access-date=October 22, 2017|work=Orange Coast Magazine|date=July 1, 1982}} They released one album, The Scratch Band Featuring Danny Flowers.{{cite web |url=http://bassmusicianmagazine.com/2015/11/dave-pomeroy-no-limits-bass-musician-magazine-november-2015-issue/|title=Dave Pomeroy, No Limits|work=Bass Musician|access-date=October 22, 2017|author=Ty Campbell|date=November 1, 2015}}

Watson was an original member of the band Tennessee Pulleybone along with Big Ken Smith, Jerry Tuttle, and John Wolters. The band recorded several singles for JMI Records in Jack Clements' studio.{{cite web |url=http://www.musicdish.com/mag/index.php3?id=7040|title=The Tennessee Pulleybone: A Forgotten Piece of Country Music History|work=Music Dish|access-date=October 22, 2017|author=Anne Freeman|date=December 15, 2002}}

Watson was a member of the band Tone Patrol, with Pomeroy, Kenny Malone, Larry Chaney, and Sam Bacco.{{cite book |last=Artimisi|first=Tony|date=2015|title=Rhythm Makers: The Drumming Legends of Nashville in Their Own Words|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781442240117|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r1nAoQEACAAJ|access-date=October 22, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=staff|title=Concerts|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/112848820/|access-date=October 22, 2017|work=The Tennessea|date=February 28, 1988}}

Watson has frequently been a member and leader of the Country Music Hall of Fame Medallion Ceremony Band. Other members have included John Hobbs, Eddie Bayers, Paul Franklin, Brent Mason, Michael Rhodes, Deanie Richardson, Tania Hancheroff, and Wes Hightower.{{cite web |url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1586429/emmylou-harris-ernest-v-pop-stoneman-enter-country-music-hall-of-fame/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223113832/http://www.cmt.com/news/1586429/emmylou-harris-ernest-v-pop-stoneman-enter-country-music-hall-of-fame/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 23, 2014|title=Emmylou Harris, Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman Enter Country Music Hall of Fame|work=CNT News|access-date=October 22, 2017|author=Edward Morris|date=April 28, 2008}}

=Other=

Watson serves on the board of directors of the Country Music Association.{{cite web |url=http://www.cmaworld.com/board-of-directors/|title=Board of Directors|work=Country Music Association|access-date=October 22, 2017}}

Watson is a Trustee of Local 257 Nashville Chapter of the American Federation of Musicians.

Watson serves on the Advisory Board of The American Music Channel, and is a partner in Trifectone Music Group, which writes, produces and performs the music for Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40 Countdown.

Discography

=With [[Crystal Gayle]]=

=With [[Don Williams]]=

=With The Scratch Band=

  • 1982: The Scratch Band Featuring Danny Flowers (MCA)

=Also appears on=

class=wikitable style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; width:600px; height:45px;"
  Go to:    1986 - 1989   |   1990 - 1992   |   1993 - 1995   |   1996 - 1998   |   1999 - 2001   |   2002 - 2004   |   2005 - 2011   |   2012 - present  

==1986 - 1989==

==1990 - 1992==

==1993 - 1995==

==1996 - 1998==

==1999 - 2001==

==2002 - 2004==

==2005 - 2011==

==2012 - present==

Bibliography

  • 2005: Chas Williams - The Nashville Number System {{ISBN|978-0963090676}} - Watson contributed chart examples{{cite web |url=http://www.nashvillenumbersystem.com/|title=The Nashville Number System|access-date=October 23, 2017|author=Chas Williams}}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • {{Official website|biffbangs.com}}
  • {{AllMusic | id= biff-watson-mn0000054824 | label= Biff Watson}}
  • {{discogs artist|475382-Biff-Watson|Biff Watson}}
  • {{IMDb name | id=1509857 | name=Biff Watson}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Biff}}

Category:1952 births

Category:Living people

Category:people from Chatham, Virginia

Category:American alternative rock guitarists

Category:American session musicians

Category:20th-century American musicians

Category:21st-century American musicians