Frank Watkinson Timeline
- 1953 Born June 26 in Peterborough, a city 25 miles from Huntingdon where he lives now. Peterborough is known for its massive cathedral.
Song: When I Was a Boy - 1962 Dad died due to a work related accident
- In 1964, when Frank's mother passed away from cancer, he and his six siblings were separated and went to live with various relatives. An aunt took in two of his brothers, but they were later adopted by another family.
Two songs about his mother stand as particularly poignant examples of his storytelling prowess. "Me Mum", written on a Mother's Day while mowing his lawn, is a tender reflection on maternal love. The song captures the complexity of remembering a lost parent, written from a place of deep emotional memory.
"Last Time I Saw Her", a song chronicling his final moments with his mother, is about a traumatic childhood experience of losing his mother to cancer at age 11. The song reveals a young boy's perspective on an incomprehensible loss. He recalls being taken away from the hospital by a social worker, returning to find his mother had passed—a moment of profound grief captured in raw, unfiltered lyrics.
- 1969 Returned Home At 16 years old, Frank returned to his mothers house to live with his older brothers. He purchased his first guitar.
- School: Frank hated school "every minute of it". In 1962, at the age of nine, Frank experienced a formative moment when, after excelling in exams at his new school and earning second place, he was denied the prize. Teachers deemed it unfair to award him over a student who had attended the school all year, teaching him an early lesson about the unpredictability of merit and recognition. (Story) After one year, he dropped out of an electrical trade school.
- Work History: Apprentice electrician (briefly) Worked in retail (selling electrical goods) Worked in various factory jobs Grill chef at roadside diner ("Little Chef") - worked night shifts (8 PM to 8 AM) Worked for a telephone company for 36 years before retiring
- 1973 Married: Frank met Frances while working as a grill chef at Little Chef. Frances was a waitress. The Girl From 73: A Timeless Tribute to Love and Resilience
- Children: Two daughters
- Grandchildren: 4 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 24, works retail.
- Dogs/Cats: One Dog, a Shih Tzu named Marshall. Two cats.
- Health: Frank has had Diabetes for 35 years. (source) "Diabetes is bad enough, but I also have the usual aches and pains — a bad back, aching knees, and shoulders. Living in Fenland, where it’s damp most of the time, doesn’t help. It’s a bit like swamp land, and it’s common for people here to have arthritis or rheumatism. Summers can be humid, but they’re rare." Frank has smoked since he was 14 years old.
After being diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome, he had brain surgery to remove a tumor on his pituitary gland. (source) - Music History: "I haven't really got any musical history. Basically, what you see on YouTube is it." Song Lists
- 2015 Launches YouTube Channel
- 2016 Original "Getting old song" - 4.6K views, 4:53 *
- 2017 Original When i was a boy" - 2.6K views, 3:46 *, "Buster" - 1.3K views, 4:34 ""Buster" was a turning point. I realized I didn't need a different chord for every line. I could use the same couple of chords and focus on the melody differently. It made songwriting much easier for me."
- 2018 Original "Time" - 3.6K views, 4:06 *
- 2019 Original "Miss you" - 297K views, 5:17 *
- 2020 Original "Getting old song" (revisited) - 39K views, 4:50 * Buster Reworked" - 4.1K views,
- 2020 August 17: 'Snuff' Cover by American heavy metal band Slipknot. "I think my subscribers went up at least 200,000 after that one." (RNZ) Views: 5.8M
- 2020 Goodieboy Indie Artist of the Year
- 2021 Original "This could be my last song" - 3.9M views, over thirty-thousand comments 4:53 *
- 2021 I'll Follow You Into The Dark Cover featured on Apple TV series "Home Before Dark" Season 2, Episode 7
- 2021 2nd Place American Songwriter Song Contest with “This Could Be My Last Song”
- 2022 Receives YouTube Silver Plaque 100,000 Subscribers
- 2022 Original Ghosts 24K views, 4:21) *
- 2023 Original Just my way of saying goodbye (36K views, 4:25) *
- 2024 August Birds of a Feather, Billie Eilish cover (2M Views)
- 2024 Receives YouTube Golden Plaque 1 Million Subscribers
- 2024 December Launch Of The Frank Watkinson Official Merchandise Shop
- 2025 January: Cover songs.com: The Best Billie Eilish Covers Ever - #5 Birds Of A Feather Cover
* Years Most Viewed: Original Song
- 2020 December 16: Metal Injection: Mashups & CoversOlder Guy Reimagines SLIPKNOT's "Snuff" as an Acoustic Ballad & It's Too Good
- 2020 December 17: Loudwire: This Man Turns Slipknot’s ‘Snuff’ into Folk Tearjerker
- 2020 December 17: Heavy Consequence : Older Gentleman Delivers Amazing Cover of Slipknot’s “Snuff”: Watch
- 2020 December 19: ToneDeaf : This old man casually drops an amazing acoustic cover of Slipknot Song
Note: On December 6, 2024, Frank reviewed this page and commented, "Looks Good To Me." Page Update: February 18, 2025
Frank Watkinson
=================
Frank Watkinson (born June 26, 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and storyteller known for his autobiographical lyrics that explore themes of loss, resilience, and the everyday struggles of life. He first gained recognition through his YouTube channel, where his original songs and distinctive covers have attracted millions of views.
== Early Life ==
Frank Watkinson was born on June 26, 1953, in Peterborough, England – a city renowned for its massive cathedral and rich history. His early years were marked by personal tragedy. In 1962, his father died in a work-related accident, and two years later, his mother succumbed to cancer. Following his mother's passing, Watkinson and his six siblings were dispersed among various relatives, an experience that would later influence his songwriting. His deeply personal tracks, such as "Me Mum" – composed on a quiet Mother's Day while mowing the lawn – and "Last Time I Saw Her", which recounts the traumatic loss of his mother at the age of 11, exemplify his poignant storytelling style.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Watkinson: A Life of Loss and Song |url=https://www.example.com/frank-watkinson-life |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
== Education and Early Career ==
Despite early academic promise, Watkinson quickly grew disenchanted with formal schooling. At the age of nine, after excelling in exams at a new school, he was denied a prize in favor of a longer-standing student—a formative lesson in the unpredictability of merit and recognition. He briefly attended an electrical trade school before dropping out after one year. Over the next few decades, Watkinson held various jobs, including:
* Apprentice electrician (briefly)
* Retail sales (specializing in electrical goods)
* Factory work
* Grill chef at the roadside diner "Little Chef", where he worked night shifts
* A long-term career with a telephone company spanning 36 years until his retirement<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Frank Watkinson |url=https://www.example.com/interview |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
== Music Career ==
Although Watkinson claims not to have a formal musical background beyond what is visible on his YouTube channel, his music resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. He launched his channel in 2015, and over the years, his unique approach to songwriting and performance has garnered a dedicated following. Notable milestones in his music career include:
* **Early Works:**
- "When I Was a Boy"
- "Getting Old Song" (first released in 2016 and revisited in 2020)
- "Buster" – a track that marked a turning point in his approach by emphasizing melody over chordal complexity<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Watkinson Music Video Stats |url=https://www.example.com/music-stats |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
* **Breakthrough and Recognition:**
- In 2020, his cover of Slipknot's "Snuff" attracted significant attention, amassing 5.8 million views and boosting his subscriber base by an estimated 200,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=RNZ Reports on Frank Watkinson's 'Snuff' Cover |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
- He was awarded the Goodieboy Indie Artist of the Year in 2020.
- In 2021, his original track "This Could Be My Last Song" earned him second place in the American Songwriter Song Contest, gathering 3.9 million views and over 30,000 comments.
- His cover of "I'll Follow You Into The Dark" was featured on the Apple TV series "Home Before Dark" (Season 2, Episode 7) in 2021.
- He received a YouTube Silver Plaque in 2022 for surpassing 100,000 subscribers, followed by a Golden Plaque in 2024 for exceeding 1 million subscribers.
- In December 2024, Watkinson launched the official Frank Watkinson Merchandise Shop.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Watkinson: Achievements and Milestones |url=https://www.example.com/achievements |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
== Personal Life ==
In 1973, while working as a grill chef at Little Chef, Frank Watkinson met and married Frances, a waitress at the same establishment. Together they raised two daughters and now enjoy the company of four granddaughters and one grandson, the latter of whom works in retail. Watkinson is also a pet owner; he cares for a Shih Tzu named Marshall and two cats.
Health challenges have been a recurring theme in Watkinson’s life. He has managed diabetes for 35 years and has experienced chronic aches and pains—conditions he attributes in part to the damp Fenland climate. Additionally, a lifelong smoker since the age of 14, Watkinson was diagnosed with Cushing Syndrome and subsequently underwent brain surgery to remove a pituitary gland tumor.<ref>{{cite web |title=Frank Watkinson Health and Lifestyle Insights |url=https://www.example.com/health |accessdate=2025-01-31}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
Frank Watkinson’s music is celebrated for its candid, autobiographical narrative style, which captures the complexities of personal loss, aging, and resilience. His work, deeply rooted in personal experience, continues to influence a broad audience and stands as a testament to the power of honest storytelling through song.
== External Links ==
* [Official YouTube Channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/FrankWatkinson)
* [Frank Watkinson Official Merchandise Shop](https://www.example.com/merch)
== References ==
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