Today we wish a Happy Heavenly Birthday to the late great Johnny “Guitar” Watson, born on February 3, 1935, in Houston, Texas. Watson was a star of two generations who made a name for himself in blues, funk, and R&B.
In the 1950s, Watson was known in the blues world for a series of hits such as “Three Hours Past Midnight.” But for most R&B fans, Watson became a household name two decades later, when, in his 40s, he issued a string of electronic, forward-thinking funk albums, the most popular of which was 1977’s A Real Mother for Ya.
Watson’s talent as a guitarist led him to collaborate with other great artists such as Bo Diddly and Frank Zappa, and his dynamic stage presence became legendary.
Sadly, Watson died of a heart attack in 1996, but only after he had influenced fans for more than forty years. Happy birthday!
