Biography
Anthony Raynard Watson commands a voice that shifts from deep rumbling bass to a falsetto so piercing it registers with dogs from a mile away. The Chi-lites selected him as the right successor to Eugene Record, and he toured and recorded with the Chicago veterans throughout the late 1980s and intermittently during the following decade.
Raised in Mobile, Alabama, the singer secured his initial major opportunity in Europe with the group Return Ticket. Back in Mobile he formed Praze and cut the original version of “Solid Love Affair,” a song he co-wrote with Paul Childs and Syl Parsons. Session dates placed him behind the Manhattans, L.J. Reynolds, and Millie Jackson. In March 1985 he issued “Solid Love Affair” under his own name on SRO Records. Later that year he signed with Amherst Records, which released his debut album Anthony Watson in 1985 and the singles “She Will Never Wait Forever” and “Missing You Tonight” in 1986.
After the Amherst arrangement ended, Watson connected with Marshall Thompson, founder of The Chi-lites, and joined the group as a touring member while recording for Ichiban Records; “Solid Love Affair” became a regular feature of their live performances. He integrated smoothly and handled lead vocals on every major Chi-lites hit except “Oh Girl,” which Robert “Squirrel” Lester continued to sing.
The Chi-lites lineup functioned as a revolving door between Watson and Greg Reed. During his first departure he signed with Tashamba Records in Miami, Florida, and recorded 9 Days of October in 1991, which yielded the singles “Do What You Want” and “Cause I Love You.” When that contract collapsed he returned to The Chi-lites, only to exit once more and record for Vision Records, also in Miami, in 1994; the resulting album Ain’t No End to the Rainbow, produced by Betty Wright, received little exposure.
Watson rejoined The Chi-lites for the 1998 Coppersun Records release Help Wanted, which featured updated soul material such as “Sly, Slick & Wicked,” “Hold on to Your Dreams,” and “Love Uprising” alongside several new originals. He also appeared on Tyrone Davis’ Relaxin’ With Tyrone, issued by Malaco Records in 2000.
Raised in Mobile, Alabama, the singer secured his initial major opportunity in Europe with the group Return Ticket. Back in Mobile he formed Praze and cut the original version of “Solid Love Affair,” a song he co-wrote with Paul Childs and Syl Parsons. Session dates placed him behind the Manhattans, L.J. Reynolds, and Millie Jackson. In March 1985 he issued “Solid Love Affair” under his own name on SRO Records. Later that year he signed with Amherst Records, which released his debut album Anthony Watson in 1985 and the singles “She Will Never Wait Forever” and “Missing You Tonight” in 1986.
After the Amherst arrangement ended, Watson connected with Marshall Thompson, founder of The Chi-lites, and joined the group as a touring member while recording for Ichiban Records; “Solid Love Affair” became a regular feature of their live performances. He integrated smoothly and handled lead vocals on every major Chi-lites hit except “Oh Girl,” which Robert “Squirrel” Lester continued to sing.
The Chi-lites lineup functioned as a revolving door between Watson and Greg Reed. During his first departure he signed with Tashamba Records in Miami, Florida, and recorded 9 Days of October in 1991, which yielded the singles “Do What You Want” and “Cause I Love You.” When that contract collapsed he returned to The Chi-lites, only to exit once more and record for Vision Records, also in Miami, in 1994; the resulting album Ain’t No End to the Rainbow, produced by Betty Wright, received little exposure.
Watson rejoined The Chi-lites for the 1998 Coppersun Records release Help Wanted, which featured updated soul material such as “Sly, Slick & Wicked,” “Hold on to Your Dreams,” and “Love Uprising” alongside several new originals. He also appeared on Tyrone Davis’ Relaxin’ With Tyrone, issued by Malaco Records in 2000.
Albums
Singles
