Biography

CLEVELAND WATKISS Best Male Jazz Singer in Britain - Evening Standard Born in the East End of London, virtuoso vocalist, actor and composer. At age 16, he won twice in a local singing talent competition, hosted by "FatMan" of FatMan Sound System (North East London Based Roots, Reggae & Dub Sound System). He studied the voice at the London School of Singing with opera coach Arnold Rose and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. ​ Cleveland was the opening act of choice for two of the world’s greatest female jazz vocalists Cassandra Wilson and Abbey Lincoln. He has worked closely and performed together with the diverse range of artists across the world, including Stevie Wonder, The Who, Louis Moholo, Bobby McFerrin, Goldie, Björk, Talvin Singh, Jackie Mittoo, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Abdullah Ibrahim, Shabaka And The Ancestors, Nigel Kennedy, George Martin, Black Top, Cassandra Wilson, the Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Sugar Minot, William Parker & Hamid Drake, Branford & Wynton Marsalis +JALC, Pete Townshend, London Community Gospel Choir and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Cleveland is an original founder member of the Jazz Warriors, and now Co-Director of Warriors International. He has received multiple prestigious awards and nominations, including the Ivor Novello Award for Innovation 2021, Jazz Vocalist of the Year at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2017, Best Jazz Act at the MOBO Awards 2017 and Best Vocalist at the Guardian Jazz Awards. www.clevelandwatkiss.co.uk