Adam Watts (musician)

Adam Watts (born Adam Matthew Watts on December 8, 1975) is an American, rock and pop, Artist, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and engineer. His songwriting and productions are featured on over 30 million records sold worldwide in the mainstream and contemporary Christian music industries.

Biography

Adam Watts was born in Laguna Beach, California. He came from a musical family his grandmother was a Hawaiian style steel guitar player and teacher, his mother plays accordion and piano, his father plays guitar and sings. His older brother plays guitar and his younger sister is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and producer. Adam began playing drums at the age of 10, inspired by the drummer in his brother's band which rehearsed in the home. Watts is a devout Christian. His faith is evident in much of his work as a songwriter.

Watts studied drumming throughout his late childhood and teens studying with various drum teachers including Glenn Young, John Hannon, Roy Burns, Evan Stone, Jim Wunderlich and Mike Jackson (in the Mission Viejo High School Drumline 1991-1994), Dave Weckl, Chad Wackerman, Joey Heredia. In 1993 he was the local winner of the Santa Ana "Guitar Center Drum-Offs". In 1994 he won the "National Will Calhoun Drum Solo Scholarship Contest Sponsored by Sonor Drums". In 1995, Watts attended Saddleback community college where he studied music and philosophy. Opting to leave after only one year to pursue a career in music full time.

Watts was the drummer of local Orange County band "Bulkhead" (along with OC Supertones bassist Tony Terusa) from 1994-1997. In 1996 Adam contributed drum tracks to Gannin Arnold's pop/rock indie solo release entitled "One". He played drums in various funk and top 40 cover bands in the Orange County/L.A. club scene including The Strangers, Stone Jonez and Soul Shaker. It was around this time that he began writing songs, singing, producing his own music. He also began to play live (singing and playing guitar) with various backing musicians and band members including Gannin Arnold, Melvin Davis, Adam Marcello, Drew Hester, Andy Dodd, Bill Mohler, Nate Wood, Luke Agajanian and Derek Frank.

In 2000 he contributed drums to bassist Melvin Davis's jazz/fusion solo album "Tomorrow's Yesterday" and percussion to Pax217's album "TwoSeventeen". In 2001 Adam and his sister Jenn Watts wrote the theme song for the movie "Pootie Tang". This kick-started his career as a full time songwriter and producer. This year also saw the birth of his production company Red Decibel Productions with Andy Dodd. Watts and Dodd produced Christian pop/rock artist Jeremy Camp's 6 song indie E.P. which led to Jeremy's signing with "BEC Recordings". Watts and Dodd produced and recorded the majority of Jeremy Camp's first two albums "Stay" and "Carried Me" in a three month span in Watt's childhood home in Mission Viejo, CA in late 2001. "Stay" and "Carried Me" were both eventually RIAA Certified Gold. Watts and Dodd continued working with Camp throughout his career on his albums Restored, Beyond Measure and Live Unplugged. Watts and Dodd also produced various other contemporary Christian albums for 'Jadon Lavik' and 'The OC Supertones and Maranatha Music.

In 2003, Watts and Dodd were connected to pop artist Jesse McCartney through the independent A&R company TAXI. They wrote the songs Take Your Sweet TIme and Beautiful Soul for McCartney which led to his signing with Disney's Hollywood Records. Beautiful Soul became the title track and first single on Jesse's first Hollywood Records release. It went on to become a worldwide smash hit reaching number 5 on the Billboard Pop 100 Charts, number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 5 on "Pop 100 Airplay" and number 23 on the Adult Contemporary Charts. The "Beautiful Soul" video spent the maximum amount of time (50 days) on MTV's Total Request Live top 10 videos show. The album Beautiful Soul went Platinum in 2004. The song appeared on various compilations and soundtracks including the That's So Raven Soundtrack, A Cinderella Story Soundtrack and Kids Bop 7.

Watts signed a publishing deal with Walt Disney Music Publishing in 2004 and went on the write and produce (with Andy Dodd) on Aly and AJ's album Into The Rush, High School Musical 1 and 2, Hannah Montana seasons 1 and 2, Jump In Soundtrack, Go Figure Soundtrack, Everlife's Walt Disney Records self titled release and Ingram Hill among others.

Selected Song Discography

'"Let It Fade" - Jeremy Camp
"Carried Me" - Jeremy Camp
"How Does It Feel" - Adam Watts
"Critical Condition" - Adam Watts
"Crawl" - Adam Watts
"Come Around Again" - Adam Watts
"Beautiful Soul" - Jesse McCartney
"Take Your Sweet Time" - Jesse McCartney
"Just So You Know" - Jesse McCartney
"Right Where You Want Me" - Jesse McCartney
"What I've Been Looking for" - High School Musical
"Gotta Go My Own Way" - High School Musical 2
"Just Like You" - Hannah Montana - Season 1
"Make Some Noise" Hannah Montana - Season 2
"I Gotta Find You" - Joe Jonas (for the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock)
"This Is Me" - Demi Lovato (for the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock)
"This Is Home" - Switchfoot (For the soundtrack to The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian)
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Adam Watts - Solo Artist

In 2002 Watts contributed as a solo artist to projects such as, "Songs For A Purpose Driven Life" (based on Rick Warren's best selling book The Purpose Driven Life), and "The Left Behind 2" Soundtrack. 2003 Watts signed to BEC Recordings and released his critically acclaimed first album "The Noise Inside". He was named one of Christianity Today's Best New Artists in 2004. In 2005 Watts amicably left BEC Recordings to pursue an indie career. In 2006 Watts independently released his album "Sleeping Fire". Christianity Today gave it a rare 5 star review and named it one of the Best Albums of 2007. Along with band mates Jules, Nic and Matt Rodriguez (all brothers) they are now recording and performing as the Adam Watts Band.

External links

* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=6097184 Official Adam Watts Band Myspace]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=233269143 Official Red Decibel Music Group Myspace]

References

* [http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2004/bestnewartists2004.html Christianity Today's 2004 Best New Artists List]
* [http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2007/sleepingfire.html Christianity Today's "Sleeping Fire" Review]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jjfwxql0ldfe~T4 Adam Watts on Allmusic]
* [http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/reviews/2007/2007bestof.html Christianity Today's Best Albums of 2007]