André Watts biography

Synopsis

Playing Piano as a Child

André Watts was born on June 20, 1946, in Nuremberg, Germany, to Maria Alexandra Gusmits, of Hungarian descent, and Herman Watts, an African-American soldier stationed in Germany after World War II. Watts received his first piano lessons from his mother after deciding to discontinue his initial studies of the violin. His mother would hold up 19th century Hungarian composer Franz Lizst as an idol for the young Watts to encourage him to practice.

When the family later moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Watts continued playing the piano, and began playing with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 9. He also received training at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. His parents divorced in the early 1960s.

Grand Philharmonic Debut

At age 16, Watts won a 1962 competition to play in conductor Leonard Bernstein's televised Young People's Concert series with the New York Philharmonic, with Watts performing a Lizst concerto. A short time later, Watts was called in by Bernstein at the last minute to be a replacement for pianist Glenn Gould, who was unable to make a scheduled New York Philharmonic performance due to illness. Watts's resulting solo performance on New Year's Day in 1963 was enrapturing, inspiring immediate worldwide acclaim.

Watts released his first album, The Exciting Debut of André Watts, under Columbia Records in 1963. That same year, he received a Grammy Award for most promising new classical music artist. Watts's manager and mother decided that he would, initially, do concert work on a limited basis and continue his schooling, studying under pianist Leon Fleisher and earning a bachelor's degree in music from the Peabody Institute in 1972.

Historic TV Appearance

During the the late 1960s and '70s, Watts continued to grow in stature and reputation as an artist, performing in the United States, Europe and Asia, and earning an array of accolades. In 1976, he made history with PBS's Live From Lincoln Center program by playing the first fully televised piano recital. He appeared on TV regularly with a variety of musical outfits, including the Boston Symphony and the Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and eventually guest-starred on the famous children's program Mister Roger's Neighborhood, where he played several pieces and spoke about the calming quality of music.

Later Career

In 1988, the same year that he celebrated his 25th season of performances, Watts won the Avery Fisher Prize, a monetary award for solo instrumentalists of distinction given by Lincoln Center. He married Joan Brand in 1995.

In the early 2000s, Watts suffered a spontaneous hematoma and collapsed before a concert in California.