Lovelace Watkins (March 6, 1938 – June 11, 1995) was a Las Vegas-based singer and performer who achieved prominence in America as well as in Europe and Australia.
Watkins was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1938. He
was of African, Indian and Spanish heritage. When his mother gave birth to him,
she was only fourteen years old, and he was raised by his grandmother. He
studied microbiology at Rutgers University and also trained as a boxer.
He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1961 while
promoting his album "The Big, Big Voice of Lovelace Watkins", music
arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis. In addition to appearing on The Ed
Sullivan Show, Lovelace also appeared on the Johnny Carson and Mike Douglas
shows.
Dreams was recorded in New York April 1964, with Vickie Burgess, Lynn Daniels, Marlene Jenkins (background vocals)
Nicknamed "The Black Sinatra", his stage
personality was earthy and electric. However this charisma and the power and
quality of his voice never quite came over on his record releases. As a result
of this Lovelace never reached his full potential in the United States.
Lovelace became popular in northern England, however, and
the discerning Liverpool, Lancashire public helped make his debut at their
Wookey Hollow's night club an overnight sensation, and he was recalled for a
second show one week later. In March
1972, he married Anna Marie Fitzsimmons of Salford, Lancashire, and their baby
son, named Alan, was born on the 4th April, 1972. Due to Lovelace's well-known
philandering ways with women, the marriage was not destined to last.
Lovelace did a ten week long summer season at The ABC Theatre in Blackpool. The shows were sold out. His third Wookey Hollow cabaret appearance was recorded
and televised on BBC1 at 11.35pm on 8 May 1974. Following this, Lovelace
Watkins at one time held the attendance record at the "Talk Of The
Town" in London, England at the height of its prominence, and attended by
such stars as Roger Moore and Australia's Barry Crocker, who went on to become
a great friend of Lovelace.
Watkins did a "Command Performance" for Queen
Elizabeth II. The Times called him “the best entertainer on earth.” He appeared
on the British religious variety series "Stars on Sunday", and after
his last reappearance at the Wookey Hollow when he introduced his new blonde
wife, Lovelace disappeared into obscurity as far as his UK fan base was
concerned.
Watkins had a long association with Australia's Gold
Coast. He helped raise money for the city following the floods in 1974 which
had a devastating effect. He was named "Ambassador at large" by Gold
Coast Mayor Keith Hunt. Watkins recorded two songs that beat more than 250
entries to be selected. They were "We Love the Gold Coast" by Clyde
Collins and "On The Gold Coast" by Tom Louch from Victoria. The
single was released on the Finooks Folly label.
In South Africa he received two gold albums and was so
celebrated that a public parade was held in his honour – an unprecedented
reception for a black entertainer at the height of apartheid.
Lovelace recorded 9 albums both in the United States and
in Europe. Full of hubris, Lovelace believed thought he would sing forever, but
back in the States, bad business decisions and a Hollywood screen test that
never transpired led to his cleaning offices and singing at various functions
in Las Vegas before dying of leukemia June 11, 1995 (age 57).
1 comment:
For “Lovelace Watkins – When I Fall In Love” go here:
https://www.upload.ee/files/9666977/Lovelace_Watkins_-_Fall_In_Love.rar.html
1. When I Fall In Love 2:28
2. Summertime 2:26
3. The Lady Is a Tramp 2:46
4. Hello Young Lovers 2:25
5. You'll Never Know 2:06
6. Anything Goes 1:53
7. I Could Write a Book 1:48
8. Love Me or Leave Me 2:43
9. But Not for Me 2:23
10. You Do 1:41
11. Tonights the Night 2:14
12. Where or When 2:06
Released: 1 Oct 2014
℗ 2014 Mach60 Music
A big thank you to Les @ loadsamusicsforum for his help.
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