Charlie Watts

Charlie Watts (born Charles Robert Watts on 2 June 1941 in Bloomsbury, London) was an English drummer whose relaxed, jazz‑infused style became a cornerstone of the Rolling Stones’ sound for nearly six decades. Raised in a modest working‑class family, his father drove a lorry for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway while his mother worked in a factory; the young Charlie spent his childhood in a post‑war prefab home in Wembley, developing an early fascination with 78 rpm jazz records of Jelly Roll Morton and Charlie Parker. He taught himself drums with a makeshift kit, received his first proper drum set as a Christmas gift in 1955, and honed his craft while attending Harrow Art School, where he also trained as a graphic designer. After a brief stint designing advertisements, Watts joined Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated in 1961, simultaneously working as a designer for Charles, Hobson and Gray. His deep appreciation for swing, bebop, and big‑band rhythms would later inform his understated yet highly musical drumming, characterized by tasteful restraint and an emphasis on serving the song rather than showcasing virtuosity.

In January 1963 Watts accepted Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Brian Jones and Ian “Stu” Stewart’s invitation to become the permanent drummer of the Rolling Stones, a role he would occupy until his death in 2021. Nicknamed “the Wembley Whammer” by Jagger, he contributed not only his impeccable timing—often employing a subtle “late backbeat” and omitting constant hi‑hat eighth notes—but also his artistic talents, designing early record sleeves and elaborate stage sets. Outside the Stones, Watts led several jazz ensembles, including the Charlie Watts Quintet and Tentet, recorded tribute albums to Charlie Parker, and collaborated with musicians such as Dave Green and Jim Keltner. His contributions earned him induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989) and the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame (2006), and he was repeatedly listed among the greatest drummers of all time. Married to Shirley Ann Shepherd for 57 years, they had one daughter, Seraphina. Watts passed away from squamous‑cell carcinoma on 24 August 2021, leaving behind an enduring legacy of musical elegance, humility, and timeless influence.