I played in my first band (“The Revolutions”) with Bruce in 1967. After about six years of evolving and transitioning through our subsequent bands (“Hereafter” and the “A L. Richard Band”), I gave up rock-and-roll band life to pursue a college education and eventually became a bureaucrat in Washington DC – for over 30 years. After retiring in 2012, and with inspiration and encouragement from Bruce, I once again became interested in creating music and have thoroughly enjoyed participating in and contributing to Bruce’s (and Danny’s) projects over the past several years. Let’s see what my most cherished and loved ones have to say about me…¶ “I met Watson when we were in our early 20s working at the Census Bureau in Washington DC. I was drawn to his southern accent and manners. Throughout the years I’ve met his family and childhood friends. He met Bruce in the 2nd grade and they have been fast friends ever since. They formed a band at the age of 11. Watson and his friends have shared a love of music that has lasted nearly six decades! I tease Watson about his NUMEROUS guitars — I say “too many” he says “not enough” — but I know those guitars and amplifiers give him a special joy and feeds his soul. I am thrilled he has taken part in this adventure with Bruce and hope they create more beautiful music together.” (lovely wife Mary)¶ “Before I ever came into the picture, my dad already had a lengthy relationship with music and growing up with that influence has founded my own. Wanting to make music myself, I started playing violin in elementary school. I still remember the excitement I had when our high school orchestra selected an arrangement of “Eleanor Rigby” to play in concert; an appreciation born out of fondness for The Beatles’ entire discography, thanks to Watson! When I took a guitar class, he made sure I had something to play, starting me around a Washburn acoustic and Fender Telecoustic to learn the ropes. His love for music has lent him an encyclopedic understanding of rock and roll (which- maybe to the satisfaction of his generation- has come to be known as “classic rock” over the years.) If you get my dad talking about music, there’s a good chance you’ll hear some great stories or trivia about bands and musicians; a reflection of what he’s gained through his own experiences and curiosity. His shelves house a growing library of books detailing rock history and its prominent figures. ¶ An appreciation of music in the family has grown out of a lifetime of attending concerts, singing along to the classics at home, and jamming together on Bob Marley and Jimmy Buffett covers at church events. It’s no surprise that we all ended up with some of that same love for music, he has always had it playing somewhere in the background!” (eldest daughter Katie)¶ “My dad was my first and brightest lighthouse for music, shepherding me to discover all the treasures from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. My childhood was set to the music he put on – rock & roll, folk, Motown, blues. At home, we had a mini museum in the form of a closet that housed thousands of my dad’s CDs organized thoughtfully and meticulously. When I wanted a shot of magic, I would go in there and marvel at his collection. Nowadays, I realize how lucky I am how often I get to tell people, ‘My dad played this album all the time when I was growing up!’” (youngest daughter Olivia)