Wah-Wah Watson

jdgm

Funk guitar maestro Melvyn Ragin, AKA Wah-Wah Watson, passed away on Oct 24th.

He came to prominence during his Motown years on The Temptations "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" and recordings by the Jackson Five, The Supremes, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye and many more.  As funk and soul moved into disco, his guitar sound became very much in demand.  If you remember "Car Wash" by Rose Royce - that's him on guitar.  He also played on Gloria Gaynor's epic "I Will Survive" but one of his most recognizable and well-known guitar parts is the intro to "Hang Up Your Hang Ups" by Herbie Hancock; he did a lot of sessions.  Unique sound, much imitated.

R.I.P.

boogieman

That guitar part makes Papa Was a Rolling Stone. Didn't realise he’d done so many other classic tracks though. 
RIP.