darrenwatson@bigfoot.comDarren Watson was born in Wanganui, New Zealand on 14 October, 1966. As a child
he learned piano, drums, and trumpet; but it wasn't until his early teens (circa.1980) that Darren found the instrument that suited him best - the guitar.
He quickly progressed to the point where he was
invited to join a working covers band as bassist and vocalist. Darren spent his high school years making money playing the local bars and spending as little time as possible in class. In 1985, two years
after leaving Hutt Valley High School, (now with a six-string in hand) Darren formed Chicago Smoke Shop. By 1990 he had produced four self-penned singles (including the now classic 'Mind On My Sleeve') and
two albums which lived in the middle regions of the national sales charts for several weeks. Smoke Shop worked as opening act for several international artists like; Koko Taylor, Robert Cray (2 NZ
Tours), George Thorogood, & Texas legends The Fabulous Thunderbirds. In 1990 Darren was nominated Most Promising Male Vocalist at the RIANZ New Zealand Music Awards, and the following year he was
nominated Top Male Vocalist. In 1993 he got the Tommy Adderly Memorial Award at the Town & Country Music Awards, and Top Blues Performer at the 1996 Aiwa Wellington Music Awards. Darren has been
working with various groups since 1991, including The Hot Leftovers, The Behemoths, The Little Kings, and his new outfit The Dive Bar Casanovas. 1997 saw Darren touring with The Midge Marsden Band around the
South Island. In early 1998 indie label Pagan Records released an album of Darren's original songs, Overnight Sensations. It heralds Darren's blooming as a songwriter outside of the twelve-bar square, and
was universally lauded by the Kiwi music press. A new 'more blues influenced' album is promised sometime around the end of '99 or early in year zero. |
