'Wah Wah' Watson
| 'Wah Wah' Watson | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Melvin Ragin |
| Born | 1951 (age 72–73) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, fusion |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1970– Present |
| Associated acts | Funk Brothers, Norman Whitfield, Motown, Herbie Hancock |
| Website | www |
Melvin Ragin (born c. 1951), better known by the nickname "Wah-Wah Watson", is an American guitarist and session musician famed for his skills with a wah-wah pedal.
Biography
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Melvin Ragin became a member of the Motown Records studio band, The Funk Brothers, where he recorded with artists like The Temptations (his guitar work on "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" is particularly notable), The Jackson 5, The Four Tops, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and The Supremes.[1] He played on numerous sessions in the 1970s and 1980s for many top soul, funk and disco acts, including Herbie Hancock.
In 1977, Watson released his first solo album, Elementary, on Columbia Records. The album, co-produced by Watson and David Rubinson, sold poorly.
In 1994, Ragin appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time magazine.
In the 2000s, Ragin appeared on the albums Black Diamond (2000) by Angie Stone, the soundtrack to the film Shaft (2000), Maxwell's Now (2001), Damita Jo (2004) by Janet Jackson, and Alicia Keys' Unplugged (2005).
Discography
As leader
- Elementary (1977)
As sideman
- The Temptations, All Directions (1972)
- Marvin Gaye, Let's Get It On (1973)
- Martha Reeves, Martha Reeves (1974)
- Quincy Jones, Body Heat (1974)
- Bobbi Humphrey, Satin Doll (1974)
- Pointer Sisters, Steppin' (1975)
- Herbie Hancock, Man-Child (1975)
- Herbie Hancock, Secrets (1976)
- Labelle, Chameleon (1976)
- Rose Royce, "Car Wash" (1976)
- Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride (Pablo, 1977) composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin
- Eric Clapton, Slowhand (1977) - rumored
- The Beach Boys, L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
- Michael Jackson, Off The Wall (1979)
- Herbie Hancock, Feets, Don't Fail Me Now (1979)
- Herbie Hancock, Mr. Hands (1980)
- Herbie Hancock, Monster (1980)
- Blondie, "Live It Up" (1980)
- Vanessa L. Williams The Comfort Zone (1991)
- Brian McKnight, Brian McKnight (1992)
- Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Plantation Lullabies (1993)
- Maxwell, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1994)
- Herbie Hancock, Dis Is Da Drum (1994)
- Stevie Wonder, Conversation Peace (1995)
- Brian McKnight, I Remember You (1995)
- Meshell Ndegeocello, Peace Beyond Passion (1996)
- Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, Versus (1997)
- Maxwell, Now (2001)
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- Official website
- 'Wah Wah' Watson discography at Discogs
- Melvin Ragin at the Internet Movie Database
