Lawrence "Larry" Watson

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Lawrence "Larry" Watson (born October 26, 1952) is an American educator, singer, songwriter, and activist.[1][2][3] As of January 2016, Watson serves as Professor of Ensemble at Berklee College of Music and he is also the Resident Artist at the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice at Harvard Law School.[4]

He co-hosts the television show Sing that thing on WGBH, Boston.[5]

Early life and education[edit]

Lawrence Watson born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York, Watson credits his strong family ties and the spiritual messages in African American music for his musical direction.

Growing up the 1960s, Watson listened to gospel music, rhythm and blues. This music, he felt, saved him from a life in the streets. Music, he came to believe, could change lives.[6]

Watson attended State University of New York at Oswego. Jerry Seinfeld, Watson's college roommate, in an appearance on the Steve Harvey Show, called Watson "his first black friend".[7] Watson considered the relationship unique, one that crossed racial and cultural divides during the social upheavals of the early seventies.[6][8]

While an Assistant Dean at Cornell University, Watson was elected to the Board of Education, Ithaca, New York and served on the Tompkins County Human Rights Commission.[9]

Career[edit]

Activist[edit]

In 1997, Watson felt he was unfairly arrested for a traffic violation.[10] He spoke out and testified about his arrest before the Massachusetts' legislature.[11]

At Harvard University Watson served as the co-chair of the Association of Black Faculty and Administrators. He and Derrick Bell authored a report on the University’s lack of progress in appointing black professors to tenured positions.[12][13] Eventually, Watson was dismissed from his position and he alleged discrimination.[14][15]

Music career[edit]

Watson's performances support human rights and come with a message for social change. Through his music, he advocates for political and humanitarian causes and celebrates the African American experience.[16]

He sang the lead in Langston Hughes Black Nativity (1990)[17][18] and performed for Nelson Mandela on the Boston Esplanade (1990).[19]

In 1992 he sang for Amnesty International USA (1992)[20] and sang for the Boston chapter of TransAfrica.[21] In 1993, Watson founded Save OurSelves Productions and Consulting (SOS).[22] He has used this platform to speak out on hip hop and educate younger artists.[23]

He performed for the Boston Dialogue on Race in 1996[24] and Watson's CD, The Journey debuted in 1997. The Journey offers songs of the black experience. The songwriting on the CD was done by Watson and garnered positive reviews. The Boston Globe praised the songwriting, for its meaningful lyrics.[25]

In 2000, he performed in honor of the founding members of the first black art organization chartered in Massachusetts, Boston Afro-American Artists (BAAA ).[26] That same year, Watson released his CD Reparations: from Togo to Arkansas. It condemned slavery, police prejudice and misogyny. The album mixes rhythm and blues, gospel, jazz and funk.[27]

He honored the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment (2003) at the Museum of African American History[28] and memorialized the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (2014).[29]

As Resident Artist with the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice (CHHIRJ), Watson offered musical performances in support of the legal symposia.

In 2007 his appearances at CHHIRJ symposia included: the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Heard it Through the Grapevine: Race and Media in the 21st Century;[30] the 50th Anniversary of Dred Scott v. Sanford: Race, Citizenship and Justice[31] and the 50th Anniversary Celebration Integrating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.[32]

For 2008, he performed for the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Gender, Age and Religion in the 2008 Election.[33] In 2009 he again performed for the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Striking the Right Balance: Addressing Our Individual and Collective Responses to Families and Communities.[34]

The 2010 performance was for the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Reason and Religion.[35] In 2011, he appeared at Celebrating Challenges and Champions: From Houston to Marshall to the 21st Century[36] and the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: A Gathering of Elders: Sheros, Heroes and Survivors.[37]

For 2013, he appeared at the Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Place and Health, Take Two Aspirin's.[38]

Awards[edit]

In 1996, the Boston-based civil rights organization, Community Change, awarded Watson the Drylongso Award for his efforts in the fight against racism.[39] And in 2001, the Cambridge, MA chapter of the NAACP awarded Watson the Alvin E. Thompson Civil Rights Award for his outstanding leadership and promotion of community empowerment.[39]

Discography[edit]

  • The Journey (1997)
  • Reparations: from Togo to Arkansas (2000)
  • Prescriptions (2016)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hartigan, Patti (June 16, 1996). Watson Is a Singer On a Dual Mission. The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ^ Robinson, Charlotte. (July 10, 2016). "Lawrence "Larry" Watson" Talks Music for Social Change and Justice. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  3. ^ Williams, Jacquinn (June 6, 2011). "Larry Watson Brings Old School Soul to Modern Audiences."Bay State Banner.Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  4. ^ Ashton, Kimberly (August 3, 2015)."Podcast: Inside Berklee-Larry Watson. Berklee College of Music. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  5. ^ Lipovich, Joe (26 April 2016). "Lexington Barbershop Ensemble to Compete on Sing That Thing!". Patch Media. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b Young, Bob (October 23, 1997). "Watson Uses R & B to Help Some Souls". Boston Herald. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  7. ^ "When Comedians Go Off Script." (June 20, 2015). The Steve Harvey Show. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  8. ^ Givens, Ron (November 24, 1997). Not Part of the Wild Bunch During Turbulent Period in the U.S, Jerry Went His Own Way New York Daily News. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "Watson Resigns Arts College Position" (November 1984). Cornell Chronicle. Ithaca, New York. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  10. ^ Yosifon, David, G. (February 12, 1998). "Black Man Fighting Brookline Traffic Stop".Bay State Banner. Boston. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  11. ^ MacQuarrie, Brian (April 13, 1999). "Black Drivers Describe Harassment by Police". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  12. ^ Ball, Joanne. "Report Urges More Blacks on Faculty at Harvard" (October 25, 1988).The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  13. ^ "Harvard Blacks Make Unusual Plea on Hiring" (October 30, 1998).The New York Times. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  14. ^ Flint, Anthony and Gelbspan, Ross (August 10, 1990). "A Question of Discrimination Raised at Harvard." The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  15. ^ Glasser, Susan B. (June 8, 1989). "Voicing Controversial Views." Harvard Crimson. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  16. ^ Graves, Reynolds Douglas (January 27, 2010). "Berklee Professor Urges Activism Through Song". Bay State Banner.
  17. ^ "'Black Nativity' Brings Magic to the Opera House". (December 15, 1990). The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  18. ^ Campbell, Karen (November 30, 2000). "What Black Nativity Means to Its Cast". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
  19. ^ Morse, Steve (June 22, 1990). "Music for Mandela. Top Acts Come Together on the Esplanade for a Day of Harmony as a Tribute to the Anit Apartheid Leader." The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 25, 2016
  20. ^ Morse, Steve. (April 10, 1992)."Sound choices". The Boston Globe. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  21. ^ Hartigan, Patti "Giving Blacks a Good Rap". (February 21, 1992), The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  22. ^ Williams, Jacquinn (June 9, 2011). "Larry Watson brings old school soul to modern audiences" Boston Banner. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  23. ^ Bourne, Kay. (December 21, 2000)."Local Singers, Musicians Offer Varied Talents to Music Scene". Bay State Banner. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  24. ^ Yostifon, David G. (February 26, 1998). "Activists Pull No Punches in Boston Dialogue on Race." Bay State Banner. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  25. ^ Coleman, Sandy (23 October 1997). "LAWRENCE WATSON THE JOURNEY Save Ourselves Productions". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  26. ^ Bourne, Kay. "Hub artists' Group Honors Founders" Bay State Banner. 2000.
  27. ^ Bourne, Kay. (December 21, 2000). "Local Singers, Musicians Offer Varied Talents to Music Scene". Bay State Banner. Retrieved August 31, 2016.
  28. ^ " Museum of African American History. 54th Regiment Celebration." "Museum of African American History." Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  29. ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard March 21, 2014. Northeast Regional Fair Housing Civil Rights Conference. 50th Anniversary of 1964 Civil Rights Act. (March 21, 2014). MassLive. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  30. ^ Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Heard it Through the Grapevine: Race and Media in the 21st Century (April 1, 2011). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  31. ^ 150th Anniversary Dred Scott v. Sanford: Race, Citizenship and Justice Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice.
  32. ^ 50th Anniversary Celebration Integrating Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas (October 24, 2007). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
  33. ^ Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Gender, Age and Religion in the 2008 Election (August 6, 2008). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  34. ^ Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum Striking the Right Balance: Addressing Our Individual and Collective Responses to Families and Communities. (August 12, 2009). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
  35. ^ Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Reason and Religion. Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice.
  36. ^ Celebrating Challenges and Champions: From Houston to Marshall to the 21st Century Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice.
  37. ^ a-gathering-of-the-elders-sheroes-heroes-survivors Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: A Gathering of Elders: Sheros, Heroes and Survivors. (September 15, 2011). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  38. ^ Annual Martha's Vineyard Forum: Race, Place and Health, Take Two Aspirins. (August 14, 2013). Charles Hamilton Houston Institute of Race and Justice. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  39. ^ a b Williams, Jacquinn (9 June 2011). "Larry Watson brings old school soul to modern audiences (June 19,2011)". Bay State Banner. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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