Howard Staton “Cedric Rainwater” Watts
Howard Staton Watts (1913–1970), best known by his comedic stage name Cedric Rainwater, was an American upright bassist and comedian. A professional entertainer from Florida who initially performed as a guitarist, tap dancer, and comedian under the moniker "Arizona Slim," Watts moved to Nashville in 1941 and transitioned to the upright bass, joining Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1943. He played bass fiddle and sang baritone in Monroe's historic 1945–1948 "classic lineup" alongside Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs, and Chubby Wise. Following his time with Monroe, Watts co-founded the Foggy Mountain Boys with Flatt and Scruggs, performing on early definitive cuts like "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," before spending his later career recording and touring with country music legends Hank Williams, Hank Snow, and Ray Price. He was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Hall of Fame in 2007, marking the first time a bluegrass bass player was inducted individually.
In the newsletter
- No. 21 Fall 1999