Chris Watling

MUSIC:  Professional musician in the DC-area for the past 25 years.  Main instruments are baritone and tenor saxophones.  Founding member of roots rock band The Grandsons.  Toured nationally and internationally, and has performed at many prestigious venues/events including:  The Kennedy Center, The Lincoln Center, The White House, Wolf Trap, Warner Theater, 930 Club, Merriweather Post Pavilion, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.  Have performed with numerous R&B legends such as:  Lloyd Price, Ben E. King, Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Howard Tate, the Spinners, the Chiffons, Carla Thomas, Earl King, Ruth Brown, James Hunter, Ronnie Spector.

Currently performing with The Grandsons, King Soul, King Teddy, Last Train Home, La Rue Boogaloo, Little Pink, Eric Byrd.

ARRANGER/PRODUCER:  Have produced and arranged recording sessions in the top DC-area recording studios such as:  Bias, Cue, Omega, Hit & Run, and Wally Cleaver’s.  

COMPOSER:  Original compositions have been featured on NPR stations.  Was recently commissioned by Silver Spring based computer animation company PCM to create music for two projects:  composed 7 station IDs as part of Voice of America's rebranding effort, and wrote and original arrangement of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" for PCM's promotional animation.  Click on "Compositions" for some samples.

STUDIO MUSICIAN:  Producer and arranger for the just released "One Big Orooni" by the grandsons, Jr.  Performed on the following upcoming releases:  Eric Byrd Brother Ray Band, Butch Warren, John Jackson, King Soul, Lloyd Price.

AWARDS/HONORS:  Won American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Composer’s award six times.  As a member of The Grandsons, voted “Artist of the Year” by the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA), and nominated as an individual numerous times for “Musician of the Year” and “Best Instrumentalist”.  Compositions and interviews have aired on NPR stations.

Fri. Jan 27, 9pm
with KING TEDDY at FRIDAY NIGHT SWING DANCE
Towson MD
www.kingteddy.com

Sun. Jan. 29, 5pm
with Big Joe Maher at JVs
Tribute to Joe Stanley
Falls Church VA
www.jvsrestaurant.com

Tues. Jan. 31, 7pm
with Little Pink at Strathmore Mansion
Bethesda MD
www.littlepinktheband.com

Sun. Feb. 5, 9:30am
with The Grandsons at Little Falls Presbyterian Church
Falls Church VA

Feb. 7-13
with The Grandsons
State Department Tour
San Salvador, El Salvador

Fri. Feb. 17, 7:30pm
with Eric Byrd Brother Ray Band at
Mid Atlantic Jazz Festival
Rockville MD
www.ericbyrd.com

Sat. April 28, 9pm
with Virginia Coalition at
The Brooklyn Bowl
Brooklyn, NYC
www.virginiacoalition.com

Original compositions have been featured on NPR stations.  Was recently commissioned by Silver Spring based computer animation company PCM to create music for two projects:  composed 7 station IDs as part of Voice of America's rebranding effort, and wrote an original arrangement of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" for PCM's promotional animation.  Visit the PCM website and click on "process" to view the video and hear the music.