Brent "Doc" Watkins (born June 11, 1981) is an American pianist and singer based in

San Antonio San Antonio ( ; Spanish for " Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the ...

, Texas. He is the creator and co-host of the weekly radio program ''Live at Jazz, TX,'' which is syndicated through

Texas Public Radio Texas Public Radio (TPR) is a public radio broadcaster based in San Antonio, Texas, United States, providing NPR and other public radio programming to south-central and west Texas, including San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country, and the Big Spr ...

. Currently in its third season, ''Live at Jazz, TX'' has featured interviews and performances by notable artists such as

Kenny Garrett Kenny Garrett (born October 9, 1960) is an American post-bop jazz musician and composer who gained recognition in his youth as a member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra and for his time with Miles Davis's band. Garrett's primary instruments are ...

Jane Monheit Jane Monheit (born November 3, 1977"Jane Monheit." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 33. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2001. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, 2017-05-07.) is an American jazz and traditional pop singer. Early life Mo ...

Kevin Eubanks Kevin Tyrone Eubanks (born November 15, 1957) is an American jazz and fusion guitarist and composer. He was the leader of The Tonight Show Band with host Jay Leno from 1995 to 2010. He also led the Primetime Band on the short-lived ''The Jay Le ...

, and

Marcia Ball Marcia Ball (born March 20, 1949) is an American blues singer and pianist raised in Vinton, Louisiana. Ball was described in ''USA Today'' as "a sensation, saucy singer and superb pianist... where Texas stomp-rock and Louisiana blues-swamp me ...

. Watkins is the owner and founder of ''Jazz, TX'', a restaurant and performance venue located in the Historic Pearl Brewery Complex in San Antonio. He performs there regularly with his Orchestra. In 2024, Watkins announced he would be opening a new jazz club called ''Doc's'' in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston at the former Historic Tower Theatre''.'' Watkins was born and raised in Oregon and moved to

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

in 2003, where he earned a master's degree and PhD in music from the

University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...

. In 2006 he relocated to San Antonio and began performing regularly at local venues on the

San Antonio Riverwalk The San Antonio River Walk is a city park and special-case pedestrian street in San Antonio, Texas, one level down from the automobile street. The River Walk winds and loops under bridges as two parallel sidewalks lined with restaurants and sh ...

. In January 2014, he performed with his Jazz Trio at New York City's Carnegie Hall. In 2016, Watkins opened his own venue, ''Jazz, TX','' where he performs regularly with his band. In 2020, Watkins hosted and co-produced ''The Doc Watkins Show'', a live stream television program that ran for 45 episodes during the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

. The show featured Watkins and his band, with remote guest appearances from

, Alan Havey,

Brent Barry Brent Robert Barry (born December 31, 1971), also known by the nickname "Bones", is an American basketball coach, executive, broadcaster and former player. He is the assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NB ...

Champian Fulton Champian Fulton (born September 12, 1985) is an American jazz singer and pianist. Early life and education Champian Fulton was born in Norman, Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, in 1985. Her father, Stephen Fulton, was a jazz trumpeter who was often v ...

, Jerry Weldon, Mayor

Ron Nirenberg Ronald Adrian Nirenberg (born April 11, 1977) is an American politician who is the mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Prior to his election, Nirenberg served as a member of the San Antonio City Council for District 8 for two terms. In 2013, Nirenber ...

and others. The show was awarded "Best Live Stream Experience" by San Antonio Magazine in 2021. Watkins has performed with

Herlin Riley Herlin Riley (born February 15, 1957) is an American jazz drummer and a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra led by Wynton Marsalis. A native of New Orleans, Riley started on the drums when he was three. He played trumpet through high ...

Butch Miles Charles J. Thornton, Jr. (July 4, 1944 – February 2, 2023), known professionally as Butch Miles, was an American jazz drummer. He played with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, ...

, Jim Cullum, Ephraim Owens, Stan Mark, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr, Bijon Watson,

Leon Hughes Leon Hughes Sr. (May 6, 1930 – March 1, 2023) was an American rhythm and blues singer. He was the last surviving original member of The Coasters. Biography Leon Hughes was an original member of The Coasters ( Bobby Nunn, Carl Gardner, and ...

, and

Renee Olstead Rebecca Renee Olstead (born June 18, 1989) is an American actress, singer, and marriage and family therapist. Active since childhood as an actress, she is best known for her roles on the CBS sitcom '' Still Standing'' and on the ABC Family drama ...

. He currently resides in San Antonio with his wife Jessica and their four children.

Discography

Albums

* 2005 ''– The Classical Concert'' *2011 ''– Live from Bohanan's'' *2014 ''– The Outlaw'' * 2015 – ''A Willie Nelson Tribute'' * 2015 – ''Swinging from San Antonio'' * 2015 – ''Doc Watkins and his Orchestra'' (EP) * 2017 – ''Jazz, TX'' *2018 – ''Christmas in Jazz, TX'' *2019 – ''Songs of 2019'' *2022 – ''The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas''

References

External links

Official Website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Doc 1981 births Living people Musicians from Oregon Musicians from San Antonio American male pianists 21st-century American pianists 21st-century American male musicians