JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON
1937-1996
JOHNNY 'GUITAR' WATSON DEAD IN YOKOHAMA ON FRI, MAY 17
R.I.P
ロックとブルースの偉大な大先輩、ジョニー・ギター・ワトソンさんの、ご冥福を心よりお祈りします。
A Sad news, suddenly. A Blues Master Johnny 'Guitar' Watson is dead at his show at 'Blues Cafe', Yokohama, Last Night, Fri, May 17. They said , He was fall down on stage in the middle of his 1st song at the show , The staff carried him, Hurried to Hospital, but Nobody couldn't help him. He died At 9:16 Pm ,Myocardial infarction took his life away.
His 'those lonely lonely night' is a Historycal Landmark of the Blues in the 50's. I really love this song which Earl King wrote and was a good combined with New Orleans tradition and Modern Rhythm & Blues. At these days, young Johnny recoeded a many hot Guitar Blues like 'Three Hours Past Midnight' 'Too tired' 'Gangstar of Love' and 'Space Guitar', inspired from Guitar Slim, T-bone Walker, Gatemouth Brown and from many other Texas Guitar Stars where he was born in Houston, Tx, on 3 Feb 1937.
In 60's, He had made a fine record with a Rock n' Roll Master, Larry Williams. I love it, especially 'Trust in me' is a great, seems little bit revearse influenced from the Beatles.
He gave a major influence on Rock stars as Frank Zappa, Etta James, and Jimi Hendrix, and in the 70's he atempt to try more Funky way and got a successed in the contemporary scene.
I was looking forward to see him play for the first visit Japan( just, not sure with me at this point), He was to play among with James Cotton and Robert Cray at 'The Spring Carnival' -that is every year's annual Blues Festival in tokyo (7 years ago, We, Sheena & the Rokkets had played with Mr. Albert King!!!). It was to be A Happy Moment for us, it turned to the worst sad story to all music lover in the world.
I miss him, The very first Blues man, put 'GUITAR' on his artist name, a real Guitar Star in a Blues scene, Johnny 'Guitar' Watson, We remember you, whenever.
May His Soul rest in peace in the heaven. GASSHOU.