The
Carmel
Watters Band was based out of Seattle and spanned the years from the
early
eighties to about 1987. Band members came and went, but for about
three years from 1984 to 1986 we had a relatively stable lineup that
kept
us playing from Bellingham to Missoula to Eugene, and all points in
between.
The Band was
started
by Ron and Carmel Watters and generally worked six nights a week for
about
fifty weeks out of the year. Carmel had a great bluesy voice, so
even though we were playing mostly eighties cover tunes, there was a
strong
R&B undercurrent. She covered everything from Tina Turner to
Van Halen, as we worked to introduce our own material.
We eventually
attracted
the attention of a production company in LA, and Carmel was signed to a
record deal. The album was recorded at Indigo Ranch Recording
Studio
in Malibu, CA with help from hired studio guns such as Roland Bautista
of
Earth Wind and Fire, and Kenny Gradney from Little Feat. Despite
a lot of hard work and creative effort, the album was never released,
but
we continued to play the club circuit throughout the Northwest.
I don't have
any
photos of the band, but if others do, they're welcome to send them in
to
this site. I left the band in about 1986, but I know they
continued
on for quite some time after that. Although there were many
others
before and after myself, during my years in the band the line-up
included
the above players.
We spent most
of
our time in Seattle, Yakima, Spokane and Missoula, but made excursions
as far north as Kamloops, Canada and as far south as Amarillo,
Texas.
Our best days, however, were in the half a dozen bars we called home in
Seattle. While many of us have gotten out of the music business
by
this point, I believe a few members are still playing
professionally.
Hopefully they will chime in with photos and anecdotes upon finding
this
site. It was great fun while it lasted.
John
Lloyd-Jones,
June 2007
Courtesy
of Dave Reeves
Between June of
1981,
and February of 1985, these are the people I remember being connected
with
the band:
Steve
Moore-Guitar
Ron Sanders-Guitar
Bob
Patterson-Guitar
Leslie
Byrd-Keyboards
Jeff
Stephens-Keyboards
Joe Cox-Bass
Mike Smith-Bass
Steve
Broshears-Sound/Lights
Randy
Wilbur-Sound/Lights
Bev
Smith-Sound/Lights
Rich Jundt-Lights
Cary Fly-Guitar
The original
lineup
{June of 81'} was Steve Moore, Joe Cox, Leslie Byrd, Carmel Watters,
Ron
Watters, who were married at the time, and myself, Dave Reeves. Also,
Steve
Broshears.
Leslie and Joe
left
and were replaced with Jon Kirch and Mike Smith. Steve Moore left and
was
replaced by Ron Sanders. Mike Smith and Jon Kirch left, and they were
replaced
by Bill Adams and Jeff Stephens. Jon Kirch would return at a later
date.
Ron Sanders left and was replaced with Bob Patterson. {Jeff and Bob
were
out of Spokane, Wa} Jeff left and was replaced by Jon Kirch, while Bob
left us in Alaska and was replaced {temporarily} by Cary Fly. Bob and
Jeff
joined the Cads of Badness, in Spokane.
If memory
serves
me right, Cary was replaced with Taffy Lloyd Jones. Bill Adams was
replaced
by John Macko. Steve Broshears was the original sound and light tech.
Randy
Wilbur joined to do lights, so Steve could concentrate on sound. Steve
left and also joined the Cads in Spokane. I think Randy was solo for a
while, {lights and sound} then Bev Smith joined to do sound and Randy
did
lights. Randy later left and Rich Jundt filled his spot. The time
period
with all of this is June of 81' through February of 85'.
I met my wife
to
be in Spokane at the Rocking Horse Saloon in April of 82'. We
married
in December of 84' and have been together now for 23 years. We
have
a beautiful 12 year old daughter. I left the music business in
1989.
I'm driving tractor/trailer for a window company in Spokane now. Life
is
good. Hello Taffy!!!
Dave Reeves,
July
2007
