The Watts Prophets facts for kids

The Watts Prophets were an American group from Watts, California. They were famous for their political poetry. This group mixed jazz music with spoken-word performances. Many people see them as a very early form of hip-hop music.

The group started in 1967. Its members were Richard Dedeaux, Fr Amde Hamilton (born Anthony Hamilton), and Otis O'Solomon. Otis O'Solomon used to be called Otis O'Solomon Smith, but he dropped "Smith" in the 1970s. As of March 2022, Amde Hamilton is the only member still alive.

The Story of The Watts Prophets

How the Group Started

Hamilton, O'Solomon, and Dedeaux first met at the Watts Writers Workshop. This workshop was created by Budd Schulberg. It started after the Watts Riots, when the Civil Rights Movement was changing. The group combined music with jazz and funk styles. They also used fast, spoken-word poetry. This mix created a unique sound. It helped them gain many fans in their local area.

Early Music and Message

The Watts Prophets released two albums. The first was The Black Voices: On the Streets in Watts in 1969. The second was Rappin' Black in a White World in 1971. These albums showed their strong focus on social issues. They also became known for their strong, sometimes rebellious, messages.

After these first albums, the group found it hard to get another record deal. A deal with Bob Marley's Tuff Gong label did not work out. Because of this, the group performed only now and then after the mid-1970s.

Later Years and Recognition

In more recent years, the group became more well-known again. In 1997, they recorded When the 90's Came with pianist Horace Tapscott. A tour in Europe brought them back together with their old friend DeeDee McNeil. In 2005, an album called Things Gonna Get Greater: The Watts Prophets 1969-1971 was released. This album combined their first two records. It made their early music available again after many years.

Amde Hamilton is now a priest in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. You can see him performing a spoken-word piece in the 1981 film Land of Look Behind. He was at Bob Marley's funeral service in Jamaica.

In 1994, the group was on a CD called Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. This CD was made by the Red Hot Organization. They appeared on a song called "Apprehension" with Don Cherry (trumpeter). The album aimed to raise awareness about the AIDS problem in African-American communities. Time Magazine named it "Album of the Year."

Richard Dedeaux passed away in December 2013. Otis O'Solomon passed away in March 2022.

Music Albums

• 1969 - The Black Voices: On the Streets in Watts
• 1971 - Rappin' Black in a White World
• 1997 - When the 90's Came
• 2005 - Things Gonna Get Greater: The Watts Prophets 1969-1971 (a collection of their earlier songs)

See also

In Spanish: The Watts Prophets para niños

• The Last Poets
• Gil Scott-Heron