Ernie Watts

Video

Oral History Information

Interview Date
Job Title
Studio Musician

Ernie Watts is the answer to the question - who was playing the “mystery horn” on Frank Zappa’s The Grand Wazoo album? A veteran studio musician and bandleader, Ernie has had thousands of career highlights such as playing in the Tonight Show band and recording with Marvin Gaye, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Haden and Carole King, among others. As a leader he recorded nearly two dozen albums including The Wonder Bag 1972, Reaching Up 1994, Analog Man 2006 and Home Light 2018. Among the many stories he shared in his 2020 NAMM interview, Ernie expressed his feelings of pure delight for having the opportunity to make music throughout his life!