Dec 122008
Question; Does anybody care about Johnny “Guitar” Watson?
Answer; Hell Yes!
Two from JGW right here. First is one of my all-time favorite records. From 1954 “Space Guitar”. The second one is a live “Ain’t That A Bitch”.
As always, make sure you know where the reverb pedal and the bologna section are located at all times then, click pause on the music player located in the side bar before playing the YouTubes.
In 1954, I bet you the whole kitty that JGW’s Mam, or Grand, or sisters made his clothes… matchin’ tie with vest and hat band… what happened to all that stuff? Thanks again, I must’ve lost some long term memory there.
I am seriously having a gasp attack now that I remember all the influx of things to come in Houston Boom Town of the 50’s – ’70’s. And all attributable to the fact that JGW is born in Houston. Ever heard of the TSU Tornadoes, Archie Bell & the Drells, Mickey & the Soul Generation, Village Callers, The Mar-Keys , Alvin Cash … Coming straight out of Houston Texas and Texas State University, the TSU Tornadoes were the House band for Skipper Lee Frasier’s record label Ovide. Flea Market Funk TSU T played at our Senior High School Dance ‘73.. It was outstanding entertainment and dance music; I kept my honey right up front all night, dancing every note. Poor girl never got lucky that night. That’s why you call me the Grandfather of Funk.
Houston has never been that cool again. JGW went to LA in 1950… but his influence was \ is all around the place known as town without depth.
Yeah, I can see the Houston connection there. Actually, there was some pretty esoteric things going on via blues type interpretation in that whole area before all that with guys like Blind Lemon, Lightnin’ Hopkins and a contemporaries of Watson’s like Guitar Slim and Gatemouth. The whole crazy assed Huey Meaux situation.
I didn’t know about TSU Tornadoes (certainly knew of “Tighten Up” etc.). Pretty cool prom band.