Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Watts.
Hi Brett, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started playing guitar around 14 years old after playing the drums and my aunt mentioned that I couldn’t bring my drums to lake or the beach so… guitar it was! LOL. I played in High school & church with a buddy of mine and that started it off. Played all through High School and when I got to college my buddy Jay & I were involved with the American Cancer Society and we put together an “Anti-Smoking” Program/Show to present to school kids about the dangers of smoking and ended up traveling around the state of Texas presenting the show with Music, Slide presentation, etc. to keep the kids’ interest. While in college there were a few local Restaurants & bars I played in as well. One place, in particular, was the” Mine Shaft” in Arlington, Texas and there I met a bunch of up and coming (now Legendary) Texas Artists, Ray Wiley Hubbard, BW Stevenson, Rusty Weir, Gary P. Nunn, Bob Livingston, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey to name a few. My musical influences started with Folk, Country, Country rock, Pop, etc. John Denver, The Eagles, James Taylor, Seals & Croft, Elton John, Beatles, Stones,Doobie Bros. Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and my dad sang in Big Bands so Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the Rat Pack were also heard around the house. During summers I worked some ranches hauling hay, mending fences, herding cattle, and rode some rodeo that got me into some of the Cowboy/Country/Western music. After college, I tried my hand at Music & Nashville with little success and then got into business working a real job. I always played music but about 25+ years ago I really got back into my music again, started playing more places, meeting new musical artists, and reuniting with some from the ’70s playing festivals, etc. I then starting putting together my “Brett Watts’ Songwriters In the Round” were I gather other songwriters together every 3rd Sunday Of the Month @ The White Elephant Saloon-Ft Worth Stockyards and we swap original songs! I’m honored to say it has become kinda legendary in the Ft Worth Stockyards @ The White Elephant Saloon! I also have my own internet Radio Show “Brett Watts’ Texas Music & Beyond” On Texas Red Hot Radio (www.trhr.com) (7 years) playing many Texas Artists buddies songs as well as songs from out past and influences as well as having guest artists joining me live to perform!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Actually, it hasn’t been bad when I decided to get back into my music I was still working in the corporate world and was able to balance the both until time and able to go full time. I feel very blessed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I spent many years in Advertising & Marketing. I graduated with a degree in Advertising Graphic Communication (BFA) from University Of Texas-Arlington and later got My Master’s (MBA) in Marketing. I owned my own Advertising Agency & Billboard company and then went to work for a Fortune 500 company (GTE) and retired 2009 as an Executive. But with all that said my music was always part of me and that is where my balance came in… I actually entertained at the merger of GTE & Bell Atlantic which created Verizon Corporation and I was part of that merger. Regarding the Music portion of my life which is 100% now, I love that when people think of my music, they think of the Cowboy way of life and The Old West history of our state (Texas) and Country which I believe sets me a part of the basic country music.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I earned a football scholarship and played college football and later was offered and tried out for the Dallas Cowboys!
Contact Info:
- Email: cowbuoy1@hotmail.com
- Website: www.brettwattsmusic.com
- Instagram: Brett_Watts_Music
- Facebook: Brett Watts / Brett Watts Music
- Twitter: Brett Watts@BrettWattsMusic
- Youtube: Cowbuoy11
- SoundCloud: Brett Watts Music
Image Credits
Ernie Stripling Photography
