It was 1977, I was at a recording session at Paramount Recording Studio in Hollywood, CA. The bass player had some problems with the song (He learned it in another key) and after a few takes, he still couldn't get it. He would be paid but he wasn't going to be on the track. The bass part was overdubbed by the producer. I was next and was determined that my guitar track would make the cut. The producer was none other than Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, one of my favorite musicians and someone I really looked up to. He also had two back to back gold records at the time and was finally getting his due. My part was going to be tricky, I had to overdub an intro without very much of a count on top. That guitar intro was the lead into the song. The demo guitar part was done by the great David T. Walker so there was that too and I knew Johnny already knew the part — but he was giving me a chance to lay it down. It was a session for blues and soul singer Frankie Lee, who was Johnny’s cousin. Frankie had convinced Johnny that I should play on one of the tracks. And I was determined not to let Frankie or Johnny down.
"C'mon, Lick Man, you're up," he said with a cigarette dangling out of the side of his mouth. It was a nickname that Johnny had given me because he said I had no shortage of blues licks. Which as a young twenty something meant a lot from someone I idolized.
Johnny had two crowned gold teeth, he was an original if not THE original "playa" or "gangsta"
who now owned a Bentley, a Stutz and always a new Cadillac.
I was nervous and I missed the first try and I knew if I didn't nail it, Johnny would do the part. I mean, his middle name was “Guitar”.
"God, this isn't fair! I thought, "Why wasn't there a count for me?"
The engineer rolled tape and I saw Johnny looking at me. I nailed it. Johnny's face lit up and he high fived me. '"I knew you could do it, man!"
Holy shit, I was relieved. The atmosphere in the studio was now festive, it was party time.
Johnny "Guitar" Watson was the most talented musician I have ever met. He got his name from the 1954 movie, the classic western “Johnny Guitar.” His 1954 track “Space Guitar” was way ahead of its time. And his classic “Three Hours Past Midnight” inspired Frank Zappa to play guitar. They were lifelong friends and Johnny performed on several of Zappa’s albums. I saw Frank Zappa eating by himself at the venerable Larry Blake’s in Berkeley, CA in the early 80’s after he had performed down the street. I had just finished playing at Blake’s. I said I was a friend of Johnny’s and he immediately smiled and said, “Please join me if you’d like.” We had a wonderful conversation, he asked when I had last spoken with John, he spoke fondly of his friend and said just how much he was influenced by Johnny. They were both close friends.
Not only was Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson a superb guitarist, he was an incredible keyboard player, songwriter, bassist, vocalist, performer and producer. He could easily move from a burning blues, sophisticated funk, a beautiful ballad or a complicated jazz tune. He knew hundreds of standards. He was virtual encyclopedia of blues, soul, funk, rock and jazz. And could write a great song in minutes. Originally from Houston, Texas, he learned piano from his father, John Sr. - a preacher. He had also witnessed the great blues guitarists - T Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown - who influenced the young Watson and he immediately learned to play guitar. After his parents separated, his mother brought him with her to Los Angeles as a young teen where he quickly made a name for himself as Young John Watson, playing and recording with numerous big names on the vibrant Los Angeles scene of the 1950’s. He even recorded on Sam Cooke’s label.
His recording, producing and performing credits include Louis Jordan, James Brown, Amos Milburn, Sam Butera, and later George Duke, Frank Zappa, Freddie Hubbard, Nancy Wilson, Cannonball Adderley and so many more. Frank Zappa said the reason he played guitar was because he heard and saw Johnny. Johnny also influenced Jimi Hendrix, who emulated John's attack and extroverted performing style. Rappers have often cited Johnny as an influence, Snoop Dogg was one. Steve Miller (Who covered and had a hit with JGW's Gangster of Love and Miller even referred to himself as The Gangster of Love which Watson and John had no problems with - in fact, he liked Steve Miller and definitely got paid - Johnny had writer and publisher rights on the song.) Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmy Vaughan are but a few that fell who under John's musical spell. No one more so than my late boss, Ms. Etta James. Etta’s vocal phrasing is heavily influenced from Johnny's style. He and Etta were really close, like brother and sister. They were both part of Johnny Otis; Revue and did many shows together. We covered "Ta Ta Ya, Baby" and Etta always gave him his due. She said, "I got everything from Johnny... He was my main model... My whole ballad style comes from my imitating Johnny's style... He was the baddest and the best... Johnny Guitar Watson was not just a guitarist: the man was a master musician. He could call out charts; he could write a beautiful melody or a nasty groove at the drop of a hat; he could lay on the harmonies and he could come up with a whole sound.”
Check out the similarities with Etta and Johnny ( Early 60’s)
He was also a really funny guy and incredibly smart. Like many, including myself, Johnny also had his demons and despite a rough spot — he came through the fire and turned his life around. His career had rejuvenated and things were looking up. Grammy winning music writer and friend David Ritz told me that Johnny had all but stole the show opening for Prince in LA. Johnny had a new hit record, gigs were pouring in, he was artistically inspired and a new audience was discovering him. However, at the age of 61, Johnny died onstage from a heart attack in Japan in 1996, while performing his hit "Superman Lover." Through the years, we had become close and I really loved him. I still do and I miss him very much. You see, Johnny was the first person I called when I got the gig with Etta. (That gig lasted 23 years.) I still remember him saying how he thought that was a perfect fit and how much he “loved his girl” Etta. And Etta gave me points for being a friend and musical associate of Johnny’s. And when I was a musical “kid” - he made time for me, treating me like a peer and expecting nothing less than great things from me. Yes, I miss you.
Space Guitar (1954) Definitely ahead of it’s time. I think it’s safe to say Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page had a good listen to this.
This is the song that inspired Frank Zappa to play guitar
Johnny loved Errol Garner, here he is playing piano in the early 60’s
Mid 60’s soul anyone?
70’s Soul hit.
One of his best… I Want To Ta Ta Ya Baby
Superman Lover 70’s Funk with blues sensibilities
Johnny live in Europe in the mid 90’s, he was mounting a strong comeback. He passed soon afterwards.
Etta James honoring her dear friend — doing Johnny’s “I Want To Ta Ta Ya Baby” — I’m playing lead guitar on this.