Trombonist Reggie Watkins played piano, trumpet, and tuba before taking up the trombone and attending West Virginia University for music studies. In Morgantown West Virginia in the early 1990s Watkins was a band member and apprentice to bassist, composer, and band leader Kevin Frieson. After moving to Pittsburgh he began playing with many musicians including drummer Roger Humphries, guitarist Jimmy Ponder and drummer Spider Rondenelli. In 1999, Watkins joined legendary trumpeter and band leader Maynard Ferguson. During his tenure with Ferguson as trombonist, arranger and musical director he played and recorded extensively for more than six years. Watkins was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2003 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and in 2004 recorded his first album as a leader titled “A-List” as part of the Maynard Ferguson Presents Series. In 2010 he released his second CD “One For Miles One For Maynard” and his third in 2016 “Avid Admirer, The Jimmy Knepper Project” with Matt Parker - sax, Orrin Evans - piano, Tuomo Uusitalo - piano, Steve Whipple - bass and Reggie Quinerly - drums. In 2008 Watkins joined the band of GrammyAward winner and singer-songwriter Jason Mraz to tour the world and record extensively for over six years. 2018 brought a once in a lifetime experience when he was invited to play at the funeral of Aretha Franklin where he joined the many musicians, activists, entertainers and friends of The Queen of Soul to celebrate her life. In addition to leading the Reggie Watkins Quartet he is also a founding member of The Keystone Jazz Collective and a member of The Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, Richie Cole’s Pittsburgh Alto Madness Orchestra, Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band and frequently tours with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox. He is the founder and frontman of the the Pittsburgh based horn section and band The Steeltown Horns.