Drummer and Author Wes Watkins has carved his place in the musical landscape of the Washington, D.C. area by playing for R&B, Gospel, Rock, Jazz, Neo Soul, Hip- Hop, Blues and legendary Go-Go bands. Born in Baltimore and raised in Severn Md. Watkins, Former Drummer and Musical Director for Grammy Nominated artist Carolyn Malachi, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Walker Redds Project, and his band Got My Own Sound, was inspired by watching and imitating the awe inspiring dexterity of his father’s drum style. He recalls tossing his drumsticks in the air and watching drum videos as a kid, perfecting his performance as well as his sound. By age 7, Watkins was noticed by Richard Smallwood and asked to play for his music workshops at his church “Argone Hills. At this time, Watkins realized music was his passion and what he wanted to spend his life pursuing.

Watkins was heavily influenced by Go-Go– a style of music established in Washington, D.C., heavy in percussion where the drummer drives the beat with the conga player. At age 9, the enterprising young drummer organized his first band at school creating his own experience. Watkins did his first International Drum Clinic in Amsterdam at the Drumland Music Store, with over 100 people in attendance to watch him take to the stage to perform, speak, and field questions.