Late lineup of The Watersons featuring (left to right) Norma Waterson, Martin Carthy, Rachel, Mike and Lal Waterson. Live at the Rockingham Arms, Wentworth, South Yorkshire, Friday 16th October 1987.

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Original members were Norma, Mike, and Lal Waterson, with their cousin John Harrison from Kingston High School. They had a skiffle band in the early 1960s but moved on to playing more traditional material. They were briefly known as "The Folksons".

Their first album was Frost and Fire 1965 followed by The Watersons and A Yorkshire Garland in 1966. The Watersons split up in 1968 when Norma went to work as a disc jockey on a radio station on Montserrat.

The group reformed in 1972 with John Harrison briefly replaced by Bernie Vickers. He in turn was replaced the same year by Norma's husband and respected folk singer in his own right Martin Carthy. This lineup recorded For Pence and Spicy Ale 1975, Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy 1977, and Green Fields 1981.

Later lineups featured Mike Waterson's daughter Rachel Waterson, who briefly replaced Lal during a leave of absence caused by ill health in the mid-1980s, then continued to sing with the group on Lal's return. This five-piece line up performed regularly during the late 1980s and recorded a session for the BBC Andy Kershaw show in August 1986. In 1987 the group collaborated with Swan Arcade to form Blue Murder who have performed and recorded sporadically with various line ups to the present day. Subsequent Watersons line ups fluctuated, featuring Eliza Carthy, Anne Waterson and Maria Gilhooley at various times and recording only occasionally.