Beverly "Guitar" Watkins

The last time I spoke with her was during a break at Stone Mountain's Tunes By The Tracks, an outdoor concert and popular community gathering beside the old railroad depot in the lovely historic village. She was razor sharp, playing her Fender guitar much like one of her influences, Sister Rossetta Tharpe. The news of her death meant another loss for Georgia's outstanding music heritage. The death last year of jazz singer Theresa Hightower, another familiar face in Atlanta venues, still resonates sadness.

Beverly Watkins learned music from many sources including the great Clark Terry who later played trumpet with Count Basie. One of a handful of female blues guitarists, her original style influenced countless rock and blues legends including John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix. Her career took off when she joined Piano Red's band, Dr. Feelgood and the Interns, with performances in clubs, festivals and college campuses throughout the South.

I first met her with the band when they played at FSU during my undergraduate days. I already knew Piano Red from his wonderful daily radio show on Atlanta's WAOK. Red didn't seem to mind one bit that Ms. Watkins would regularly outshine everyone in his band. She was really terrific on stage and clearly a crowd favorite.

Beverly Watkins toured with Otis Redding, James Brown, Ray Charles, Big Joe Turner and heaven only knows how many others. She was a regular for several years at Atlanta's Fat Matt's Rib Shack, a blues headquarters in Atlanta.

For the the thousands who saw her perform and were royal entertained, we're thankful for being there in her presence. For all others, you really missed this Georgia Girl, who, in Chuck Berry's words, "could play a guitar like ringing a bell."