Charlie Watts Siblings: Getting to Know Linda Watts
Charlie Watts PHOTO/BBC
Charles Robert Watts, known to the world as Charlie Watts, was an English musician and the longtime drummer for the Rolling Stones.
Born on June 2, 1941, in Bloomsbury, London, he passed away on August 24, 2021, at the age of 80 in Chelsea, London.
Renowned for his understated, swinging style rooted in jazz rather than flashy rock techniques, Watts served as the steady rhythmic foundation of one of rock’s greatest bands for nearly six decades, from 1963 until his death.
A dapper, private gentleman who favored tailored suits and vintage jazz records over the excesses of rock stardom, he brought sophistication, reliability, and quiet elegance to the Rolling Stones’ sound.
Siblings
Charlie grew up in a modest working-class family in Wembley, northwest London, where he lived in a prefabricated home at 23 Pilgrims Way.
His parents were Charles Richard Watts, a lorry driver for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and Lillian Charlotte Watts, a former factory worker.
He had one sibling, a younger sister named Linda, born in 1944, with whom he remained close throughout his life.
Family accounts describe the Watts household as tight-knit, and Linda later spoke publicly about her brother in interviews for his authorized biography.
Watts himself became a devoted family man, marrying Shirley Ann Shepherd in 1964 and sharing a daughter, Seraphina (born March 1968), who gave him his only grandchild, a granddaughter named Charlotte.
Career
Watts discovered his passion for music early, particularly jazz and bebop, collecting records by artists like Charlie Parker and Duke Ellington while working as a graphic designer after studying at Harrow Art School.
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He began playing drums in the late 1950s and joined the jazz-influenced Blues Incorporated led by Alexis Korner in 1961.
It was through this scene that he met future Rolling Stones members Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards.
In January 1963, Watts officially joined the newly formed Rolling Stones, initially reluctant but quickly becoming indispensable with his precise, behind-the-beat groove that infused the band’s blues and rock with swing and swing-era elegance.
Over the following decades, Watts powered iconic albums from the band’s early hits through classics like Beggars Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile on Main St., right up to later releases.
His minimalist drum kit and refusal to solo or draw attention to himself contrasted sharply with the flamboyant personas of his bandmates, yet his playing defined the Stones’ unmistakable pocket and feel.
Outside the Stones, Watts pursued his first love by leading several jazz ensembles, including the Charlie Watts Quintet and the ABC&D of Boogie Woogie, releasing albums that showcased his talents in smaller, more intimate settings.
He also designed album covers and maintained a parallel interest in horses and rural life with his wife on their Devon farm.
Despite health challenges in his later years, including a brief departure from touring in 2021 due to illness, Watts remained committed to the band until the end.
Accolades
Watts was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 as a member of the Rolling Stones and into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2004 alongside the band.
His contributions helped the Stones achieve countless platinum albums, sold-out world tours, and a legacy as one of the greatest rock bands in history.
Watts received tributes from peers and critics alike for his jazz-infused approach that elevated rock drumming, and he was often praised by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the heartbeat and rock-solid anchor of the group.
Posthumously, his authorized biography Charlie’s Good Tonight further cemented his reputation as a gentleman drummer.