Anthony Reynard Watson (March 3, 1957 – July 1, 2021) was an American

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

singer, who toured and recorded (off and on) with

The Chi-Lites The Chi-Lites (, ) are an American R&B/soul vocal quartet from Chicago. Forming at Chicago's Hyde Park High School in 1959, the group's original lineup consisted of singers Robert Lester, Eugene Record, Creadel Jones, Clarence Johnson, Burt ...

in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Career

Anthony Reynard Watson was born in

Mobile, Alabama Mobile ( , ) is a city and the county seat of Mobile County, Alabama, United States. The population was 187,041 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. After a successful vote to annex areas west of the city limits in July 2023, Mobil ...

on March 3, 1957. Watson's career began with the group Return Ticket in Europe; he later toured with the group Praze. His

eponymous An eponym is a noun after which or for which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. Adjectives derived from the word ''eponym'' include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Eponyms are commonly used for time periods, places, innovati ...

album was released by Amherst Records in 1985, as well as such

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

as ''Solid Love Affair'', ''She Will Never Wait Forever'', and ''Missing You Tonight''. After meeting Chi-Lites' founder

Marshall Thompson James Marshall Thompson (November 27, 1925Ancestry.com. ''U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007'' atabase on-line Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Social Security Applications and Cla ...

, Watson joined the group as lead vocalist in the late 1980s. He would leave the Chi-Lites twice during the nineties, with his predecessor Frank Reed returning in his absence. ''9 Days of October'' was released during his first leave; after a return and re-exit, he worked on an album produced by

Betty Wright Bessie Regina Norris (December 21, 1953 – May 10, 2020), better known by her stage name Betty Wright, was an American soul music, soul and Rhythm and blues, R&B singer, songwriter and background vocalist. Beginning her professional career ...

that did not get released, entitled 'Ain't No End to the Rainbow'. Watson would continue to tour off and on with the Chi-Lites until 2002. He died on July 1, 2021, at the age of 64.

References

External links

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

An in-depth interview with Anthony Watson at Soul Express
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Anthony Reynard 1957 births 2021 deaths American male singers American soul singers Musicians from Mobile, Alabama The Chi-Lites members