R&B/Soul
United States
Johnny "Guitar" Watson
More albums from Johnny "Guitar" Watson
About Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Hometown
Houston, TX, United States
Born
February 3, 1935
Genre
R&B/Soul
"Reinvention" could just as easily have been Johnny "Guitar" Watson's middle name. The multi-talented performer parlayed his stunning guitar skills into a vaunted reputation as one of the hottest blues axemen on the West Coast during the 1950s. Following his innovative 1954 instrumental "Space Guitar," he scored Top Ten R&B hits like "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights," 1962's "Cuttin' In," and 1967's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." However, by the 1970s, Watson had totally changed his image to that of a charismatic funkster, enjoying more popularity than ever with his down-and-dirty R&B smashes "A Real Mother for Ya," "Superman Lover," and his 1978 version of "Gangster of Love" (which became his theme song). He prefigured the rise of rap with 1980's "Telephone Bill" and even picked up a Grammy-nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album for 1994's Bow Wow just prior to his passing two years later.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson has also released music as a member of Chuck Higgins and His Mellotones and The Shields.
Influenced by Johnny "Guitar" WatsonJohnny "Guitar" Watson has influenced the music of The Blasters, Robert Cray, Frank Zappa and more.
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