Box and Fiddle
Year 38 No 05
January 2015
Charlie Watkins (1923-2014)
by Rob Howard
Charlie Walkins was a man of many accomplishments, and referred to by some as the music world’s most significant innovator since Edison. He was principally an audio engineer, famous internationally for his various amplifiers and the Watkins Copicat Echo unit. His company, Watkins Electric Music (WEM), founded in 1949, designed and manufactured electric guitars and was notable in the 1960’s and 70’s for pioneering PA systems for outdoor rock festivals. Charlie Watkins was the sound engineer for the Rolling Stones’ famous ‘Stones in the Park’ concert in 1969 and for Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix concerts at Glastonbury in 1970. WEM products became widely used by the likes of Elton John, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, The Who and Pink Floyd to name but a few.
The accordion was Charlie’s first love however, and he began playing in the 1930’s. By the 1980’s Charlie Walkins devoted himself solely to the needs of accordionists, developing and marketing his WEM ‘Songbird’ range of accordion amplifiers and other products. He introduced his own branded accordions, sold a range of accessories, and published his own free magazine, ‘Accordion Today’, through which he advertised his products and also gave his forthright views on matters concerning the accordion world.
Charlie and his wife June made substantial contributions to charities via ‘Accordion Aid’ Appeal. He was a man of great humanity who used much of the wealth he accrued for the benefit of others.
Charlie Walkins, a remarkable ‘character’ with a great sense of humour, passed away on October 28th, 2014 at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife June.
by Rob Howard
Charlie Walkins was a man of many accomplishments, and referred to by some as the music world’s most significant innovator since Edison. He was principally an audio engineer, famous internationally for his various amplifiers and the Watkins Copicat Echo unit. His company, Watkins Electric Music (WEM), founded in 1949, designed and manufactured electric guitars and was notable in the 1960’s and 70’s for pioneering PA systems for outdoor rock festivals. Charlie Watkins was the sound engineer for the Rolling Stones’ famous ‘Stones in the Park’ concert in 1969 and for Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix concerts at Glastonbury in 1970. WEM products became widely used by the likes of Elton John, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, The Who and Pink Floyd to name but a few.
The accordion was Charlie’s first love however, and he began playing in the 1930’s. By the 1980’s Charlie Walkins devoted himself solely to the needs of accordionists, developing and marketing his WEM ‘Songbird’ range of accordion amplifiers and other products. He introduced his own branded accordions, sold a range of accessories, and published his own free magazine, ‘Accordion Today’, through which he advertised his products and also gave his forthright views on matters concerning the accordion world.
Charlie and his wife June made substantial contributions to charities via ‘Accordion Aid’ Appeal. He was a man of great humanity who used much of the wealth he accrued for the benefit of others.
Charlie Walkins, a remarkable ‘character’ with a great sense of humour, passed away on October 28th, 2014 at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife June.