Sean Watkins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sean Watkins
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Sean Watkins playing with Fiction Family, at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sean Charles Watkins |
| Born | February 18, 1977 |
| Origin | Vista, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Progressive bluegrass, folk, country |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, piano, mandolin, ukulele, bouzouki |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | ATO Records Sugar Hill Records |
| Associated acts | Nickel Creek, Fiction Family, Works Progress Administration, Mutual Admiration Society, Sara Watkins, Switchfoot |
Sean Charles Watkins, born on February 18, 1977, is a talented American musician. He plays guitar, sings, and writes songs. You might know him from the folk band Nickel Creek. He's also part of a duo called Fiction Family and a group called Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). Sean's sister, Sara Watkins, is also a famous musician!
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Sean Watkins' Musical Journey
Starting with Nickel Creek
Sean Watkins began his music career playing the mandolin in the band Nickel Creek. Later, he switched to playing the guitar. Nickel Creek has released six albums and a collection of their best songs. They even won a Grammy Award for their album This Side! Sean once joked that he kept his Grammy trophy on top of his toilet because it felt like a "humble place."
Sean started playing music at a young age. He said, "My first instrument was the piano when I was six." He took piano lessons for seven years. After three years, he discovered bluegrass music through his piano teacher's son. That son played in a bluegrass band at a pizza place every Saturday night. Sean and his sister Sara met Chris Thile there, and they all started playing together on Saturday nights too. This was the beginning of Nickel Creek.
Sean is the oldest member of Nickel Creek. When he was just 16 years old, he qualified for the National Flatpicking Championship in 1993.
Solo Music and Collaborations
Besides playing with Nickel Creek, Sean Watkins has also released many solo albums. At first, his solo music was mostly bluegrass. But over time, he started adding other styles, like indie rock, to his songs. This change in his solo music is similar to how Nickel Creek's music has also grown and changed over the years.
Sean's sister, Sara Watkins, often sings background vocals and plays violin on his solo albums. In 2004, Sean and Sara worked with singer Glen Phillips on a project called Mutual Admiration Society. Sean and Sara also contributed a song called "No Way to Live" to the soundtrack of the movie Bug in 2007.
Current Music Projects
In 2006, Sean started a new music project with Jon Foreman, the lead singer of the band Switchfoot. They first called themselves The Real SeanJon. In 2008, they changed their band name to Fiction Family. Their first album, also called Fiction Family, was released in January 2009.
In 2008, Sean also joined a new group of talented musicians called Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.). This group included Sean, his sister Sara, Glen Phillips, and other great musicians. They released their first album in August 2009. Sean and Glen Phillips are considered the main members of this group.
Sean and his sister Sara often perform together at a club in Los Angeles called Largo. Their show is called "The Watkins Family Hour". Other musicians often join them on stage, like Fiona Apple and even their former Nickel Creek bandmate Chris Thile. This group released an album in 2015 and went on tour.
Sean also often plays guitar and sings with his sister Sara when she performs her solo music. In 2013, Sean announced that he had finished a new solo album called All I Do Is Lie, which came out in June 2014.
Sean Watkins' Life
Sean married musician Dominique Arciero on October 19, 2019. They got married in Vista, California, where Sean is from. They now live in Los Angeles, California.
Sean Watkins' Music
Solo Albums
- Let It Fall (2001)
- 26 Miles (2003)
- Blinders On (2005)
- All I Do Is Lie (2014)
- What to Fear (2016)
- This Is Who We Are (2020) – with The Bee Eaters
With Nickel Creek
With Fiction Family
With Watkins Family Hour
- Watkins Family Hour (2015)
- Brother Sister (2020)
