MELVIN WAH WAH WATSON

Melvin Ragin (born December 8, 1950), better known by the nickname“Wah Wah Watson“, is an American guitarist and session musicianfamed for his skills with a wah-wah pedal.

Career[edit]

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Melvin Ragin moved to Detroit and 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; he both recorded and composed songs with the Pointer Sisters.

In 1977, Watson released his first solo album, Elementary, on Columbia Records. The album was co-produced by Watson and David Rubinson.

In 1994, Watson 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, Watson appeared on the albums Maxwell’s Now (2001), Black Diamond (2000) by Angie Stone, the soundtrack to the film Shaft (2000), Damita Jo (2004) by Janet Jackson, and Alicia Keys‘ Unplugged (2005), The Element of Freedom (2009).

Discography[edit]

As leader[edit]

• Elementary (1976)

As sideman[edit]

• The Jackson 5, ABC (1970)
• The Undisputed Truth, The Undisputed Truth (1971)
• The Temptations, All Directions (1972)
• Four Tops, Nature Planned It (1972)
• The Temptations, Masterpiece (1973)
• Love Unlimited, Under the Influence of… (1973)
• Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On (1973)
• The Love Unlimited Orchestra, Rhapsody in White (1974)
• 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 (1977)
• Herbie Hancock, VSOP (1977)
• Gloria Gaynor, I Will Survive (1978)
• Donald Byrd, Thank You…For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (Elektra, 1978)
• Cher, Take Me Home (1979)
• The Beach Boys, L.A. (Light Album) (1979)
• Michael Jackson, Off the Wall (1979)
• Herbie Hancock, Feets, Don’t Fail Me Now (1979)
• Thelma Houston, Ride to the Rainbow (1979)
• Herbie Hancock, Mr. Hands (1980)
• Herbie Hancock, Monster (1980)
• Blondie, Autoamerican (1980)
• Vanessa L. Williams The Comfort Zone (1991)
• Brian McKnight, Brian McKnight (1992)
• George Benson, Love Remembers (1993)
• 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)
• Quincy Jones, Q’s Jook Joint (1995)
• Meshell Ndegeocello, Peace Beyond Passion (1996)
• Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, Versus (1997)
• Maxwell, Now (2001)
• Maysa, Out of the Blue (2002)
• Janet Jackson, Damita Jo (2004)
• Yung Berg, Look What You Made Me (2008)
• George Benson, Songs and Stories (2009)

2008)

• U-Nam, Week-end in L.A (A tribute to George Benson) (2012)
• Tyrese, Black Rose (2015)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Official website
• Wah Wah Watson at AllMusic
• Wah Wah Watson discography at Discogs