Derek Watkins was born on March 2, 1945 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK. He is known for Moonraker (1979), GoldenEye (1995) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). He was married to Wendy. He died on March 22, 2013 in Esher, Surrey, England, UK.
He played with The Beatles, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Frank Sinatra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He also played with the BBC Big Band, and worked with Johnny Dankworth, Maynard Ferguson, and Benny Goodman.
He has three children with his wife Wendy.
He was born into a brass band family, and was taught to play the cornet at the age of four by his father. He played in his father's band - the Spring Gardens Brass Band in Reading (UK) - of which his grandfather was also conductor and a founding member.