John "J Saxx" Watkins

About John "J Saxx" Watkins

John Watkins, (expired link). “J Saxx”, was born in Cleveland Ohio He developed his love for music at the early age of 8 by listening to his father Rev. John C. Watkins, his uncle Lamar Gaines and his grandfather Charles Pace. Following in his family’s footsteps J Saxx picked up the saxophone and never put it down. Having the opportunity to enroll into the Cleveland School of Arts, allowed J Saxx to expand his knowledge of wind instruments as well as music theory and music production.
Some of J Saxx earlier influences stemmed from local sensations like Russell Thompson, Kenny Legrand and Eddie Baccus, Jr. to National recording artist Cannonball Adderley, John Coltrane, Grover Washington Jr.,Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Everett Harp, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Cecil Rucker, Eric Gould, Michael Becker, Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett, David Sandborn, Kenny G, and Thelonius Monk. After Leading his band Notes and Sounds performing at several events as well as TV programs like FOX8 morning show, Jazz saxophonist and recording artist John “J Saxx” Watkins is launched his solo career.
Johns sound truly represents that common fabric that unifies all music across many mediums, from traditional Jazz to old school R&B, pop to fusion/rock; music that reaches all generations and age groups from both ends of the spectrum. They present new platform laced with a familiar touch of the old, connecting all genres of music through one unified platform. J Saxx has shared the stage with the Whispers, GC Cameron and the Temptations, performed at the Black Heritage Festival in Kentucky, he has also performed musical production play starring movie actor Leon.
Ending 2013 on the cover of Lifestyles Magazine, and starting 2014 with his debut Jazz single release “ In My Soul” with aired on 107.3fm the Wave and stayed in heavy rotation for several months. In 2015, John “J Saxx” Watkins showcased the launch of his solo career at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio in front of a sold out crowd. At the January 2015 and 2016 NAMM Shows in California, J Saxx became an endorser for Antigua Winds (saxophones), Theo Wanne (Mouth pieces) Legere (reeds) and Silverstein Works (Ligatures). In 2016 J Saxx released his second single “Hoodwinked” February 17th which is slated for rotation the beginning of the second quarter laying the ground work for an impressive launch to his debut Album release later this summer.