Michael Watts, a former Lake Orion resident and 1976 graduate of Lake Orion High School, was a part of the recent Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena.
He’s the band director at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. As director, Watts accepted the invitation and led his band as it ‘marched to the roses.?
By combining his band and the other city high school’s band, 508 Odessa teens marched in the Jan. 1 parade.
The band members included 411 musicians, (two of which were Watts? sons, Jameson, 17 and Colin, 14), 30 dancers, 43 color guards, 10 majorettes, six drum majors and eight banner carriers.
While in Pasadena, the composite band also performed at Bandfest and Disney Land.
Watts was in the band for several years and drum major at LOHS. He went on to study music educations at Arizona State University in Tempe.
He married his high school sweetheart (Sally Newton) and settled in the southwest. Watts has been with the Odessa School System for nearly 20 years.
During his tenure at Permian High School, the band has never received a rating less than ‘superior? in marching concert or sight reading competitions.