Johnny "Guitar" Watson (February 3, 1935 - May 17, 1996) was an American mu… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny "Guitar" Watson (February 3, 1935 - May 17, 1996) was an American musician whose long career influenced the development of blues, soul music, rhythm & blues, funk, rock music, and rap music.
John Watson, Jr. was born February 3, 1935 in Houston, Texas. His father John Sr. was a pianist, and taught his son the instrument. But young Watson was immediately attracted to the sound of the guitar, in particular the electric guitar as practiced by the "axe men" of Texas: T-Bone Walker and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.
His grandfather, a preacher, was also musical. "My grandfather used to sing while he'd play guitar in church, man," Watson reflected many years later. When Johnny was 11, his grandfather offered to give him a guitar if, and only if, the boy didn't play any of the "devil's music"--blues. Watson agreed, but "that was the first thing I did." A musical prodigy, Watson played with Texas bluesmen Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.
His parents separated in 1950, when he was 15. His mother moved to Los Angeles, and took Johnny with her.
In his new city, Watson won several local talent shows. This led to his employment, while still a teenager, with Jump blues style bands such as Chuck Higgins's Mellotones and Amos Milburn. He worked as a vocalist, pianist, and guitarist.
He quickly made a name for himself in the African-American juke joints of the West Coast, where he was billed as "Young John Watson" until 1954. That year, he saw the Sterling Hayden film "Johnny Guitar," and a new handle was born.
He affected a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a taste for flashy clothes and wild showmanship on stage. His attack resulted in him often needing to change the strings on his guitar once or twice a show, because he "stressified on them" so much, as he put it.
His seminal blues album "Gangster of Love" was recorded in 1953 or 54, and first released on Sam Cooke's Keen Records in 1957. It was not especially heralded at the time--the title song in particular was too fast, too raw, and too witty, especially compared to the likes of the then-kingpins of blues Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Watson's ferocious "Space Guitar" of 1954 pioneered guitar feedback and reverb. (He played it without a pick.) Watson would later influence a subsequent generation of white pop musicians, especially guitarists, who struggled to master the Hendrix-like complexity of Watson's technique.
He toured and recorded with good friend Larry Williams, as well as Little Richard, Don & Dewey, The Olympics, and Johnny Otis. He also played with Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and George Duke. But as the fortunes of blues declined and the era of soul music ascended in the 1960s, Watson in his inimicable style transformed himself from a southern blues singer with a pompadour into an urban soul singer with a pimp hat. He went all out--gold teeth, broad-brimmed hats, fly suits, designer shades, and bling made him one of the most colorful figures in the West Coast funk circle.
He modified his music accordingly. LPs like "Ain't That a Bitch" and "Real Mother For Ya" were landmark recordings in 70's funk. (Watson appeared on the cover of "Real Mother For Ya" sitting in a soapbox Rolls-Royce pushed by his mother.) "Telephone Bill" (on "Love Jones," 1980) featured complex, rapid-fire lyrics that foreshadowed rap music. His subsequent LPs employed "the computer sound," and popularized it.
In his exhaustively researched book "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (2005), Peter Guralnick claims that Watson was an actual pimp, as well as a performer! However, Watson felt "ambivalent" about macking girls, even though it paid better than music.
The shooting death of his friend Larry Williams in 1980 and other personal setbacks led to Watson briefly withdrawing from the spotlight in the Eighties. "I got caught up with the wrong people doing the wrong things," he was quoted as saying by the New York Times. Nevertheless, a series of summer appearances in France resulted in his becoming known there as the "Godfather of Funk."
The release of his album "Bow Wow" in 1994 brought Watson more visibility and chart success than he had ever known. The album received a Grammy nomination, and retrospective releases of his work showered him with critical acclaim.
In a 1994 interview with David Ritz for liner notes to "The Funk Anthology," Watson was asked if his 1980 song "Telephone Bill" anticipated rap music. "Anticipated?" Watson replied. "I damn well invented it!... And I wasn't the only one. Talking rhyming lyrics to a groove is something you'd hear in the clubs everywhere from Macon to Memphis. Man, talking has always been the name of the game. When I sing, I'm talking in melody. When I play, I'm talking with my guitar. I may be talking trash, baby, but I'm talking."
In 1995, he was given a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in a presentation and performance ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.
His international bookings soared. Back home, his music was sampled by Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige. He sometimes would enter the studio with rappers, at their request. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre borrowed P-Funk's adaptation of Watson's catchphrase "Bow Wow Wow yippi-yo yippi-yay" for Snoop's hit "What's My Name."
"Johnny was always aware of what was going on around him," recalled Susan Maier Watson (later to become the musician's wife) in an interview printed in the liner notes to the Collectables album "The Very Best of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson." "He was proud that he could change with the times and not get stuck in the past."
Watson died on stage May 17, 1996, while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. His remains were brought home for internment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
John Watson, Jr. was born February 3, 1935 in Houston, Texas. His father John Sr. was a pianist, and taught his son the instrument. But young Watson was immediately attracted to the sound of the guitar, in particular the electric guitar as practiced by the "axe men" of Texas: T-Bone Walker and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.
His grandfather, a preacher, was also musical. "My grandfather used to sing while he'd play guitar in church, man," Watson reflected many years later. When Johnny was 11, his grandfather offered to give him a guitar if, and only if, the boy didn't play any of the "devil's music"--blues. Watson agreed, but "that was the first thing I did." A musical prodigy, Watson played with Texas bluesmen Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland.
His parents separated in 1950, when he was 15. His mother moved to Los Angeles, and took Johnny with her.
In his new city, Watson won several local talent shows. This led to his employment, while still a teenager, with Jump blues style bands such as Chuck Higgins's Mellotones and Amos Milburn. He worked as a vocalist, pianist, and guitarist.
He quickly made a name for himself in the African-American juke joints of the West Coast, where he was billed as "Young John Watson" until 1954. That year, he saw the Sterling Hayden film "Johnny Guitar," and a new handle was born.
He affected a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a taste for flashy clothes and wild showmanship on stage. His attack resulted in him often needing to change the strings on his guitar once or twice a show, because he "stressified on them" so much, as he put it.
His seminal blues album "Gangster of Love" was recorded in 1953 or 54, and first released on Sam Cooke's Keen Records in 1957. It was not especially heralded at the time--the title song in particular was too fast, too raw, and too witty, especially compared to the likes of the then-kingpins of blues Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Watson's ferocious "Space Guitar" of 1954 pioneered guitar feedback and reverb. (He played it without a pick.) Watson would later influence a subsequent generation of white pop musicians, especially guitarists, who struggled to master the Hendrix-like complexity of Watson's technique.
He toured and recorded with good friend Larry Williams, as well as Little Richard, Don & Dewey, The Olympics, and Johnny Otis. He also played with Sam Cooke, Herb Alpert and George Duke. But as the fortunes of blues declined and the era of soul music ascended in the 1960s, Watson in his inimicable style transformed himself from a southern blues singer with a pompadour into an urban soul singer with a pimp hat. He went all out--gold teeth, broad-brimmed hats, fly suits, designer shades, and bling made him one of the most colorful figures in the West Coast funk circle.
He modified his music accordingly. LPs like "Ain't That a Bitch" and "Real Mother For Ya" were landmark recordings in 70's funk. (Watson appeared on the cover of "Real Mother For Ya" sitting in a soapbox Rolls-Royce pushed by his mother.) "Telephone Bill" (on "Love Jones," 1980) featured complex, rapid-fire lyrics that foreshadowed rap music. His subsequent LPs employed "the computer sound," and popularized it.
In his exhaustively researched book "Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke" (2005), Peter Guralnick claims that Watson was an actual pimp, as well as a performer! However, Watson felt "ambivalent" about macking girls, even though it paid better than music.
The shooting death of his friend Larry Williams in 1980 and other personal setbacks led to Watson briefly withdrawing from the spotlight in the Eighties. "I got caught up with the wrong people doing the wrong things," he was quoted as saying by the New York Times. Nevertheless, a series of summer appearances in France resulted in his becoming known there as the "Godfather of Funk."
The release of his album "Bow Wow" in 1994 brought Watson more visibility and chart success than he had ever known. The album received a Grammy nomination, and retrospective releases of his work showered him with critical acclaim.
In a 1994 interview with David Ritz for liner notes to "The Funk Anthology," Watson was asked if his 1980 song "Telephone Bill" anticipated rap music. "Anticipated?" Watson replied. "I damn well invented it!... And I wasn't the only one. Talking rhyming lyrics to a groove is something you'd hear in the clubs everywhere from Macon to Memphis. Man, talking has always been the name of the game. When I sing, I'm talking in melody. When I play, I'm talking with my guitar. I may be talking trash, baby, but I'm talking."
In 1995, he was given a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in a presentation and performance ceremony at the Hollywood Palladium.
His international bookings soared. Back home, his music was sampled by Ice Cube, Eazy-E, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige. He sometimes would enter the studio with rappers, at their request. Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre borrowed P-Funk's adaptation of Watson's catchphrase "Bow Wow Wow yippi-yo yippi-yay" for Snoop's hit "What's My Name."
"Johnny was always aware of what was going on around him," recalled Susan Maier Watson (later to become the musician's wife) in an interview printed in the liner notes to the Collectables album "The Very Best of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson." "He was proud that he could change with the times and not get stuck in the past."
Watson died on stage May 17, 1996, while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. His remains were brought home for internment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
I Wanna Thank You
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'I Wanna Thank You' by these artists:
Alicia Myers I want to thank you Heavenly Father for shining your light…
Angie Stone - Snoop Dogg [Snoop] Ladies & Gentlemen This, Is a jazzy fizzle produc-…
Bobby Rydell Hah hah hah Hah hah hah Scooby dooby doo I want to thank…
Darlene Mccoy I Want To Thank You" Heavenly, heavenly, heavenly, heavenly…
Djumbo Ik wil je zo graag zeggen "Ik ben blij dat ik…
E-40 I wanna thank you, pimps and players For sharing your game…
E-40 & Suga-T 아슬하게 넌 바라보다 그냥 왈칵 울어버렸어 이상하게 난 짐작했어 이별이 다가왔구나 지난 세월은 주마등처럼…
E-40 Feat. Suga-T Base Chorus: Suga T 1: I wanna thank you, pimps and…
E-40 Suga-T I wanna thank you, pimps and players For sharing your game…
E‐40 I wanna thank you, pimps and players For sharing your game…
F.P. Old friend Why did we let go It's time we understood We did…
Frankie Beverly You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
Frankie Beverly & Maze You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
J.J. Jackson JW王灝兒 一天一天等今晚 修身選歌試衫 一刻都不可偷懶 要變最搶眼 不開心不准解散 秒秒鐘極糜爛 沒法比天高 亦有條件…
L.O.X. the "I wanna be with you", He said to his honey. She said…
Lox [Jadakiss] Yo, you can't fake it Life's only what you mak…
Mavis Staples Lord will you forgive me For forgetting Well to say thank yo…
Maze You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
Maze featuring Clark Sisters Kiki Sheard and J. Moss You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
Maze ft. Frankie Beverly You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
Maze [feat. Frankie Beverly] You are my sunshine you brighten up my life I know…
N-Da-Spirit I need you I want you I need you I want…
Sloan You had the best of intentions now But the bad inventions…
The Enchanters Someone up there I wanna thank you so much For sending her…
The L.O.X. Feat. Kelly Price "I wanna be with you", He said to his honey. She said…
The Lox [Jadakiss] Yo, you can't fake it Life's only what you make…
Undercover Inside, outside, up and around Love set me up and love…
Various Artists [[Performed by 'NSYNC]] This is the time of year, that we…
Walter and The Beggers Tragedies are commonplace All kinds of diseases People are s…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny 'Guitar' Watson:
A Real Mother For Ya Wanna buy a new car But the price ain't right Be a…
Ain't That A Bitch I'm working forty hours Six long days And I'm highly embar…
Booty Ooty Incredible, unforgettable to watch you shake your booty oot…
Deana Baby Oh well deana baby come dance with me Well come on…
Drunk Mmmm I'm gettin' drunk I'm gettin' high And here's the reaso…
Embraceable You Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irrepl…
Gangster of Love Jesse James and Frank James Billy Kid, all the rest Supposed…
Gettin' Drunk Mmmm I'm gettin' drunk I'm gettin' high And here's the reaso…
Give a Little Give a little, bit more Give a little, bit more When you…
Half Pint of Whiskey Well I met a fine lady she was, cute and…
Honey I call you honey, honey, honey I call you honey, honey,…
Hot Little Mama I got a hot little mama, child, she's so fine Send…
I Got Eyes I got a girl, she's so sweet Makes me want to…
I Love to Love You And now, hug and kiss and squeeze me baby Hug…
I Need It Lovin' you it seemed to me Is everything that it should…
I Want To Ta-Ta You Baby Thinkin' 'bout the first time I saw you baby, ha…
Johnny Guitar When I was a young boy, I thought I had…
Juice head baby Got a motor head baby Wanna ride all night long Yes motor…
Just Won't Treat Me Rite Yes I love you baby but you just won't treat…
Looking Back As I was walking down the street A pretty girl did…
Love Jones I think I know why I love you so I…
Love Me Baby Love me baby love me all night long Till your mama…
Motor Head Baby Got a motor head baby Wanna ride all night long Yes motor…
No I Can't Where is my baby nobody knows I've asked everybody, knocked …
Nothing Left To Be Desired You know baby I was just standing here and thinking…
Oh Baby Oh baby, better listen before you go Oh baby, better listen…
One More Kiss Say one more kiss Before I hit the trail Well now I…
Real mother for ya Wanna buy a new car But the price ain't right Be a…
Ruben Oh no ruben He stole my baby ruben Gonna get me another…
She Moves Me Well early in the morning before the birds began to…
Since I Met You Baby IT′S LIKE IM DREAMINx4 STILL CANT GET OVER THAT U MINE I CA…
Someone Cares for Me I know someone, yes for me She calls me babe, she…
Superman Lover Is it a bird, is it a plane? But beyond is…
Tarzan Oh let me swing down on this grapevine here I got…
Telephone Bill Everybody rappin' and talkin' 'bout nothin' and makin' 'em s…
The Nearness Of You Its not the pale moon that excites me That thrills and…
The Real Deal When you′re walking down the street, All the fellas that you…
Thinking Girl I've been thinking Yes thinking, Bout what you said to…
Those Lonely Lonely Feelings There's been some lonely lonely nights Baby yes since you be…
Three Hours Past Midnight It is three hours past midnight And my baby's nowhere aroun…
Too Tired Yeah! I laid down last night, too tired to wake. I had…
Untouchable Now there is a mug on TV with a gun…
Virginia's Pretty Funky Virginia's groovy ooh yeah......... she's so pretty and so …
What's Going On There are some cats I know that really just like…
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