Johnny "Guitar" Watson | |
|---|---|
 Watson in 1976 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Watson Jr. |
| Also known as | Young John Watson Johnny Watson |
| Born | February 3, 1935 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | May 17, 1996 (aged 61) Yokohama, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1952–1996 |
| Labels | |
John Watson Jr. (February 3, 1935 – May 17, 1996),[3] often known professionally as Johnny "Guitar" Watson, was an American musician. A flamboyant showman and electric guitarist in the style of T-Bone Walker, his recording career spanned 40 years, and encompassed rhythm and blues, funk and soul music.
Watson recorded throughout the 1950s and 1960s with some success. His 1954 instrumental single "Space Guitar" was the first of his recordings to showcase his electric guitar playing. His creative self-reinvention in the 1970s, with funk overtones, saw Watson have hits with "Ain't That a Bitch" and "Superman Lover". His highest charting single was 1977's "A Real Mother for Ya".
- ^ "Rhythm and Blues Musician Johnny 'Guitar' Watson Dies In Japan". Associated Press. May 17, 1996. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ Van Gelder, Lawrence (May 19, 1996). "Johnny (Guitar) Watson, Musical Pioneer, Dies at 61". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
- ^ Larkin, Colin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1236/7. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.