Music has always been a major passion in my life. From an early age I started bashing on pots and pans, after many headaches my parents purchased my first drum kit , which I used to enjoy playing along with such greats as Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis and Paul Simon to name a few.

    At the age of fourteen I began playing weddings and other functions with a local South Wales trio. Then at sixteen my professional career began with a residency at a five star resort in Usk, South Wales (www.cwrtbleddyn.co.uk) in a band called Tension, with Jazz / Blues singer Tina Seaborne

    As my tastes broadened I began to develop an appreciation for Jazz and Latin styles (including Chick Corea, John McLaughlin and Frank Zappa), this felt like a natural time to pursue formal training and help develop my technique and reading skills. This was when I met one of the influences in my career in the form of London Based drum tutor Robert Henna. As well as helping develop my reading skills and technique “Bob” also introduced me to the other major influences in my career, legends, such as Joe Morello, Buddy Rich and Tommy Cambell

    At this point in time (around mid 1980s) I began touring the UK and Europe with several cover bands , it was around then that I also met and became friends with Glyn Havard (ex Kristy McColl , Jade warrior and Dogstar Poets bassist) which resulted in many varied gigs, studio work and a lifelong friendship !

     It seemed a logical progression that after years of study I should pass on some of the knowledge and techniques I had learned and this lead to me starting private tuition and also tutoring in schools across south Wales. I still enjoy teaching and am currently actively tutoring in Queensland, Australia.

     The nineties started with some interesting and challenging work playing along side renowned British based jazz artists Orsian Roberts, John Goode and Pete Scaddin (Virtual Earth) as well as touring work with UK Based rock band Killing Time  (comprising Rob Mills and Glyn Harvard).      

    In January of 1996 I decided to go on a 3 week holiday to Australia to visit my brother. While walking around Brisbane (on a typically scorching Queensland day) a chance meeting led me to a jam session at the Story Bridge Hotel, it was here that I met Lil Fi (www.lilfi.com),which led to me  joining the Delta Rhythm Kings. This resulted in my 3 week holiday becoming a year long road trip playing gigs around Australia, including the Byron Bay Blues festival, then thanks to bureaucracy and the expiration of my visa my Australian trip came to an end.

    Back in the UK I was playing various Jazz gigs and tutoring with Gwent Music Support (http://www.gwentmusic.net), this turned out to be a very rewarding time in my career where I had the opportunity to “give something back” by tutoring youngsters with behavioral issues.

    Another chance encounter then led to me playing with Joni Fiori (LA studio and West End singer), this ended after six months when Joni left to perform on the West End stage. As one door closed another one opened with the opportunity to play with the Julian Martin Trio (http://www.julianmartin.co.uk) including a residency at the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff. I also had the chance to do something I  had always wanted to do which was  work in a jazz big band, this opportunity  came along with the Abadare Big Band, a 16 piece traditional big band jazz orchestra

    This brings me to the present ,where  I have been involved in recording session work with songwriter musician Nick Withey ,guitarist/songwriter Marc Evans  and bassist Daryl cook recording an album under the name of Betty Black and the sleeping giants, with the album being in its final mix as I write.

    I have decided to move to Australia for its lifestyle and to forge a career in sunnier climes , at the moment I am working as a private tutor whilst also pursing live and recording opportunities. To enquire about my availability please feel free to contact me at info@Leightonwatkins.com.