kids encyclopedia robot

Reggie Watts facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Reggie Watts
Reggie Watts (36059512662) (cropped).jpg
Watts in July 2017
Background information
Birth name Reginald Lucien Frank Roger Watts
Born (1972-03-23) March 23, 1972 (age 53)
Stuttgart, West Germany
Origin Great Falls, Montana, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Comedian
  • musician
  • beatboxer
  • actor
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • beatboxing
  • keyboards
  • loop machine
Years active 1996–present
Associated acts Maktub

Reggie Watts (born March 23, 1972) is an American comedian, musician, and actor. He is also a talented beatboxer. Reggie is famous for his unique live shows. In these shows, he creates music and comedy using only his voice, a keyboard, and a special machine called a looping machine. He likes to surprise his audience in funny ways.

You might know Reggie as the house musician from the TV show Comedy Bang! Bang!. He also led the band for The Late Late Show with James Corden from 2015 to 2023.

Reggie Watts' Early Life and Music Journey

Reggie Watts was born in Stuttgart, West Germany, on March 23, 1972. His mother, Christiane, was French, and his father, Charles, was African American. Because his father was in the Air Force, Reggie's family lived in many countries. They lived in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

Later, his family moved back to the United States. They settled in Great Falls, Montana, where Reggie grew up. He finished high school there in 1990. Reggie started learning piano and violin when he was five years old. He loved music from a young age, especially after seeing Ray Charles play the piano on TV. At 18, he moved to Seattle to study music. He went to the Art Institute of Seattle and later studied jazz at Cornish College of the Arts.

Starting His Career in Music and Comedy

Reggie Watts 2013
Watts performing in March 2013

In 1996, Reggie Watts became the lead singer for a band called Maktub. While touring with another group, he started using a smaller music device. This device, a Line 6 DL4, helped him create layered sounds. He began to experiment with making whole songs by himself using this device. He would improvise, meaning he made up the songs on the spot. He performed these solo shows in small places in Seattle. He also wrote music for dance shows and tried out sketch comedy with a friend.

In 2004, after making five albums with Maktub, Reggie moved to New York City. In 2005, he released his first solo song, "So Beautiful." He started mixing his spontaneous comedy with his beatbox music. He also made short comedy videos for websites.

In 2007, Reggie appeared on a TV show called Scott Bateman Presents Scott Bateman Presents. He also wrote and performed the theme song for a web series called Penelope Princess of Pets. In 2008, he recorded a new comedy special called Disinformation. He also appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and in an independent film.

In 2009, Reggie released his first solo music collection, Pot Cookies. He also joined the children's TV show The Electric Company on PBS Kids. He did voice work for other shows like The Venture Bros. and toured with the band Devo.

Comedy Specials and TV Shows

Reggie's second stand-up comedy special was called A Live at Central Park. It came out on Comedy Central in 2012 and got good reviews. He also performed a song with the band LCD Soundsystem for their movie, Shut Up and Play the Hits.

From 2012 to 2015, Reggie starred on the IFC show Comedy Bang! Bang!. He was on the show with Scott Aukerman. In 2012, Reggie also helped create a comedy YouTube channel called Jash with other comedians like Michael Cera and Sarah Silverman.

In 2013, Reggie performed a new special called Transition. He was also invited to perform at a big music festival in London. In 2014, he contributed to an album by Joan As Police Woman. He also appeared on John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show. In late 2014, it was announced that Reggie would lead the band for The Late Late Show. He left Comedy Bang! Bang! in June 2015.

The Late Late Show with James Corden and Spatial

Reggie Watts was the bandleader and announcer for The Late Late Show with James Corden. He was on the show for its whole run, from 2015 to 2023. He said his job was a mix of a bandleader and a sidekick. His band on the show was first unofficially named Karen, but they later changed it to Melissa. Reggie also had a fun segment on the show called "Reggie's Question," where he would ask guests unusual questions.

On December 6, 2016, Reggie's Netflix comedy special called Spatial was released. In 2023, he released an audio version of his autobiography, Great Falls, MT; Fast Times, Post-Punk Weirdos, and a Tale of Coming Home Again.

His Unique Performance Style

Reggie Watts' solo shows are all about improvisation. This means he makes things up as he goes along. He sings and raps, sometimes using real words and sometimes making funny sounds. He creates his music by beatboxing (making drum sounds with his mouth) or by singing basslines into his loop machine. He also plays the keyboard.

His comedy act is also very unique. He quickly switches between different topics, some serious and some silly. He makes random sounds and speaks in different accents or made-up languages. He does all of this to playfully surprise and entertain his audience. Reggie has an impressive vocal range, which means he can sing many different notes, from very low to very high.

Reggie Watts in Movies and TV

Film

  • Steel of Fire Warriors 2010 A.D. (2008)
  • The Yes Men Fix the World (2009) as himself
  • Reggie Watts Does London (2009)
  • Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) as himself
  • Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film (2012) as himself
  • Shut Up and Play the Hits (2012) as himself
  • A Live at Central Park (2012) as himself
  • Transition (2013) as himself
  • Pitch Perfect 2 (2015)
  • Creative Control (2015) as himself
  • My Entire High School Sinking into the Sea (2016) as Assaf (voice)
  • Spatial (2016) as himself
  • Keep in Touch (2016) as Dr. Harry Clark
  • Duck Duck Goose (2018) as Carl (voice)
  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) as Additional voices
  • The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (2020) as Chancellor (voice)
  • Extinct (2021) as Hoss (voice)

Television

  • Scott Batemen Presents Scott Batemen Presents (2007) as himself
  • Saving Steve Agee (2007) as himself
  • Superjail! (2008) as Time-Police Member #1 (voice)
  • Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) as himself
  • Made Here (2009) as himself
  • The Ha!ifax Comedy Fest (2009) as himself
  • The Venture Bros. (2009) as The Delivery Guy (voice)
  • The Electric Company (2009–2011) as Music Man
  • The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2010) as himself
  • Good News Week (2010) as himself
  • Team Coco Presents the Conan Writers Live (2010) as himself
  • Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011)
  • Cracker Night (2011) as himself
  • Mash Up (2011) as himself
  • Talk Stoop (2011) as himself
  • Funny As Hell (2011) as himself
  • Doctor Who: The Best-of Specials (2011) as Host
  • The Green Room with Paul Provenza (2011) as himself
  • Delocated (2012) as himself
  • Russell Howard's Good News (2012) as himself
  • The Top 100 Video Games of All Time (2012) as himself
  • 7 Minutes in Heaven (2012) as himself
  • Stand Down: True Tales from Stand-Up Comedy (2012) as himself
  • Mash Up (2012) as himself
  • The Secret Policeman's Ball (2012) as himself
  • Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012–2016) as himself
  • Reggie Makes Music (2012–2013) as himself
  • Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell (2013) as himself
  • Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2013) as himself
  • 2013 YouTube Music Awards (2013) as Host
  • America's Next Top Model (2013) as himself
  • Inside Amy Schumer (2014) as Neighbor
  • The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015–2023) as himself
  • Adventure Time (2016–2017) as various voices
  • The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (2017) as Rejgie (voice)
  • Baroness von Sketch Show (2017) as himself
  • Taskmaster (2018) as Taskmaster
  • Tuca & Bertie (2019–2022) as Pastry Pete (voice)
  • Ask the StoryBots (2019) as Bernard the Nurse (voice)
  • HarmonQuest (2019) as Graildokt
  • One Day at a Time (2020) as Mr. Mann
  • Wild Life (2020) as Darby (voice)
  • The Great North (2021–2023) as Quay (voice)
  • History of the World, Part II (2023) as Hans

Internet Videos

  • Jake Lodwick - "It's Over" (2007)
  • Jake Lodwick - "The Beginning is Near" (2008)
  • Disinformation (2008)
  • bd – "I Just Want To" (2009)
  • Pop!Tech – "Reggie Watts: Humor In Music" (2011)
  • Pop!Tech – "Reggie Watts: A Send-Off In Style" (2011)
  • Funny or Die – "Reggie Watts Live" (2012)
  • TED – "Reggie Watts Disorients You in the Most Entertaining Way" (2012)
  • "Reggie Watts Is Skrillex" (2012)
  • Jash – Various Videos (2013–present)
  • "Ian Up For Whatever" – Bud Light Super Bowl XLVIII ad (2014)
  • "Brasilia: City of the Future" – Hispanglosaxon (Carolina Ravassa)
  • Good Mythical Morning – "Which Musician Am I?" (2018)
  • RIGHT NOW - "RIGHT NOW w/ John Goblikon S4 E2 (Reggie Watts)"
  • Marti Fischer - "Impro mit REGGIE WATTS | Ein Loop zwischendurch"
  • Reggie Watts @ The Lot Radio (June 26, 2017)
  • CHILLING WITH ERYKAH AND REGGIE
  • REGGIE WATTS AND FLYING LOTUS - Livestream with Marc Rebillet (2021)
  • The Try Guys - "I Smoke With Reggie Watts" (2024)

Music Videos

  • "Night and Day" by Hot Chip (2012)
  • "Stop Desire" by Tegan and Sara (2016)
  • "Move" by Saint Motel (2017)
  • "Ask Yourself" by Panther Modern (2019)

Video Games

  • Accounting+
  • Cartoon Network Journeys

Reggie Watts' Music and Awards

Reggie Watts has released several solo albums and singles. He has also collaborated with many other artists and bands.

Solo Albums

  • Simplified (2003)
  • Live at Third Man – 12" Vinyl (2011)
  • A Live at Central Park (2012)
  • Spatial (2016)

Solo Singles

  • "So Beautiful" (2005)
  • "Get Ready" (2014)

Collaborative Albums

With Maktub

  • Subtle Ways (1999)
  • Khronos (2002/2003)
  • Say What You Mean (2005)
  • Start It Over (2007)
  • Five (2009)

With 4 + 1 Ensemble

  • 4+1 Ensemble (Intuition, 1996)
  • From a Window (Avant, 2000)

With Wajatta

  • Casual High Technology (Comedy Dynamics, 2018)
  • Don't Let Get You Down (Brainfeeder, 2020)

Collaborative Songs (selected)

  • "Closer" [Brent Laurence feat. Reggie Watts] (2004)
  • "Tears" [Linkwood] (2009)
  • "Dance Anthem of the 80's" [Regina Spektor] (2012)
  • "Spaghetti Circus" [Still Going feat. Reggie Watts] (2012)
  • "Bassface" The Midnight Beast feat. Reggie Watts (2014)
  • "MFN" / "Housekeeping" Cibo Matto, Hotel Valentine (2014)
  • "Holy City" / "The Classic" Joan as Police Woman (2014)
  • "Sunshine" Flight Facilities (2014)
  • "Trumpy Trump" The Cooties (2016)
  • "There Should Be Unicorns" Oczy Mlody, The Flaming Lips, (2017)
  • "Captain Crunch" Czarface Meets Metal Face, Czarface & MF Doom (2018)
  • "Stranded" Flight Facilities (2018)
  • "Daddi (Reggie Watts Remix)" Cherry Glazerr (2019)
  • "OATMILK" (with Chelsea Peretti) (2020)

Awards and Honors

Reggie Watts has won several awards for his talent and unique style:

  • 2005 Malcolm Hardee "Oy Oy" Award
  • 2006 Andy Kaufman Comedy Award
  • 2006 Seattle Mayor's Arts Award
  • 2008 MAP Fund
  • 2009 Creative Capitol Grant for the performing arts
  • 2009 ECNY Award for Best Musical Comedy Act

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Reggie Watts para niños

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Reggie Watts Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.