Wah Wah Watson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Melvin M. Ragin |
| Born | (1950-12-08)December 8, 1950 Richmond, Virginia |
| Died | October 24, 2018(2018-10-24) (aged 67) Santa Monica, California |
| Genres | R&B, soul, funk |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Guitar |
| Years active | 1968–2018 |
| Website | wahwah |
Melvin M. Ragin (December 8, 1950 – October 24, 2018), known professionally asWah Wah Watson, was an American guitarist who was a member of theFunk Brothers, the studio band forMotown Records. He also worked extensively as asession musician in a variety of genres fromjazz andpop toR&B.
Ragin was a native ofRichmond, Virginia. His father, Robert Ragin, was a minister, and his mother, Cora (Brown) Ragin was an evangelist. She bought him his first guitar when he was 15.[1]
He moved toDetroit in the 1960s[1] and eventually became a member of theMotown Records studio bandthe Funk Brothers, where he recorded with artists likeThe Temptations (his guitar work on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is particularly notable),the Jackson 5, theFour Tops,Gladys Knight & the Pips, andthe Supremes.[2] He played on numerous sessions in the 1970s and 1980s for many topsoul,funk anddisco acts, includingHerbie Hancock; he both recorded and composed songs withthe Pointer Sisters. His nickname stemmed from "wonderfully textured sounds"[3] he conjured using awah-wah pedal to alter the sound of his electric guitar; he bought his first pedal after hearing Motown studio guitaristDennis Coffey use one.[1]
When Motown relocated to Los Angeles, so did Ragin.[1] In 1976, Watson released his first solo album,Elementary, onColumbia Records. The album was co-produced by Watson andDavid Rubinson.[4]
In 1994, Watson appeared on theRed Hot Organization's compilation album,Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of theAIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" byTime magazine.[citation needed] In the 2000s, Watson appeared on the albumsMaxwell'sNow (2001),Black Diamond (2000) byAngie Stone, the soundtrack to the filmShaft (2000),Damita Jo (2004) byJanet Jackson,Alicia Keys'Unplugged (2005), andThe Element of Freedom (2009).[citation needed]
Watson died on October 24, 2018, at St. John's Hospital inSanta Monica.[5] He was 67. He was survived by two sisters, two brothers, and his wife, Itsuko Aono. In a statement, Aono said, "Wherever he is, he’s groovin’.”[1]
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WithHerbie Hancock
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