by Linda KohanovThe Virginia-based keyboardist creates finely crafted music that always seems to straddle a handful of genres with ease. He was a founding member of the short-lived, yet highly original, progressive '70s band, Happy the Man. In the early '80s, Watkins began building his own home studio and produced consistently inviting music that draws on his first-rate keyboard skills and his keen ear for sonic detail. He has recently been exploring a darker, more ambient side with the release of his two Thought Tones albums, both of which are highly recommended.