Biography
Viola Watkins stood out among women who successfully shifted from R&B into rock & roll thanks to her exceptional abilities. Her career began with Ebony in the mid-'40s, followed by sessions for Super Disc, M-G-M Records, and Jubilee, the latter yielding three top-notch singles in "There Goes My Heart," "It Must Be Love," and "Really Real," prior to her 1953 move to George Goldner's Rama label for the Crows-backed "Seven Lonely Days" and the solo "Real Fine Man." Her skills as arranger and pianist made her a triple-threat whose work reached audiences beyond her own discs, notably through her piano performance and co-arrangement on the Crows' hit single "Gee," which earned her a lasting spot in the ranks of early rock & roll musicians.