Lucius Carl Watters (1911–1989) was a pioneering trumpeter and bandleader of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band, credited with reviving traditional New Orleans jazz on the West Coast. Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Rio Vista, California, Watters began playing music in San Francisco, honing his skills as a trumpet player and arranger. Inspired by King Oliver and his time in New Orleans, Watters formed the Yerba Buena Jazz Band in 1939, which became central to the traditional jazz revival. The group performed at San Francisco's Dawn Club, gained widespread recognition, and recorded for Jazz Man and West Coast Records. After World War II, the band reassembled, performing at Hambone Kelly's in El Cerrito until disbanding in 1950 when key members Bob Scobey and Turk Murphy departed. Watters retired from music, pursuing interests in carpentry, cooking, and geology. Briefly returning in the 1960s, he recorded Blues Over Bodega. Lu Watters passed away in 1989, leaving a legacy as a jazz revivalist.
