About Johnny "Guitar" Watson
Johnny "Guitar" Watson was a singer, guitarist, and showman born in Houston in 1935. His stinging guitar style grew out of the Texas blues tradition of T-Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown, and over a long career he moved fluidly from blues into R&B, soul, and funk.
His best-known songs include "Gangster of Love," later covered by Steve Miller, and his highest-charting single, "A Real Mother for Ya," from 1977. Frank Zappa often credited Watson as the guitarist who first inspired him to play, and his influence runs through generations of blues and funk musicians.
He died in 1996 while performing on stage in Japan, and was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2008.
Did You Know
- • Blues, soul, and funk guitarist born in Houston in 1935.
- • His guitar style descended from Texas blues players T-Bone Walker and Gatemouth Brown.
- • Wrote "Gangster of Love," later covered by Steve Miller.
- • His 1977 single "A Real Mother for Ya" was his highest-charting record.
- • Frank Zappa credited Watson as an early inspiration to play guitar.
- • Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2008.
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