History Music / JohnnyGuitarWatson

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

-->''I jump on my white horse Cadillac\\
Ride across the border line\\
I rope 65 girls, kiss 'em all at the same time\\
I take 25 or 30 and I put them on a freight\\
There's a 560 million dollar reward for me\\

Sheriff say "Are you Johnny 'Guitar' Watson?" in a very deep voice\\

* SharpDressedMan: Watson always wore flashy suits.

* EarlyInstalmentWeirdness: Early in his career he recorded an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaEjhBFK8Nc album]] of cocktail lounge music, singing and playing piano: '''I Cried For You'''. And it's '''still''' awesome.

* EarlyInstalmentWeirdness: Early in his career he recorded an [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaEjhBFK8Nc album]] of cocktail lounge music, singing and playing piano: '''I Cried For You''. And it's '''still''' awesome.

In 1954 he signed to the Federal label and released "Space Jam" (1954), which featured innovative guitar effects such as reverb and feedback. As he explained himself: "I used to play the guitar standing on my hands, I had a 150 foot cord and I could get on top of the auditorium - those things Music/JimiHendrix was doing, I started that shit!" Watson still scored hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as he made mixed {{Disco}} and {{Funk}} in his playing: "Superman Lover", "I Need It" and "A Real Mother For Ya" (1977) were his biggest hits from this period.

* SoulBrotha: From the late 1960s on he fell into this trope by wearing CoolShades, dreads, a CoolHat, talking in jive while still playing like a "real mother for ya".

* CoolHat and CoolShades: Later in his career his broad-brimmed hat, gold teeth, sunglasses and jewelry were part of his public image.

* NeoClassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly: Watson is FirstAndForemost known as a {{Blues}} artist, but also interspersed {{Funk}}, {{Disco}} and {{HipHop}} in his music.

Johnny "Guitar" Watson Jr. (February 3, 1935 – May 17, 1996) is an American blues singer and guitarist, best remembered for his hits "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" (1955) and "Gangster Of Love" (1957)

Though not a huge name in blues his music is widely acclaimed. Steve Miller covered "Gangster Of Love" in 1968. Music/StevieRayVaughan saw Watson as one of the best blues guitarists ever. Music/EttaJames went on record as saying: "I got everything from Johnny... He was my main model... My whole ballad style comes from my imitating Johnny's style... He was the baddest and the best... Johnny Guitar Watson was not just a guitarist: the man was a master musician. He could call out charts; he could write a beautiful melody or a nasty groove at the drop of a hat; he could lay on the harmonies and he could come up with a whole sound. They call Elvis the King; but the sure-enough King was Johnny 'Guitar' Watson." Music/FrankZappa saw him as one of his prime influences and especially liked the fact that his guitar solos were longer than those from other blues guitarists [[TheFifties at the time]]. "Three Hours Past Midnight" was one of his favorite records of all time, according to a 1975 interview for "Let It Rock" and a 1989 appearance in the American radioshow "Castaway's Choice". He also said that if he had to narrow his choices down to one record it would be that song. Later in his career Watson and Zappa became lifelong friends. Watson also performed on Zappa's albums ''Music/OneSizeFitsAll'' (1975), ''Music/ThemOrUs'' (1984) and ''Music/ThingFish'' (1985).

* Steve Miller referenced "Gangster Of Love" twice:

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: The song "Real Mother For Ya" by Johnny Guitar Watson uses repetition. Over the course of the song, it's pronounced "Real Motha Fo' Ya", and at the end of the song, is repeated several times, But at the end he actually says "Real Motherfucker" Most radio stations cut out that last part in its entirety, although it sometimes slips by.

His father was pianist, who taught him music. Johnny's grandfather, a preacher, gave him his first guitar, but [[DoNotDoThisCoolThing told him to never play blues music]], which still had a sleazy reputation in the 1930s and 1940s. Johnny evidently broke that promise and became first noticed after winning local talent shows. He started his career as a guitarist and pianist for other Jump Blues bands such as Chuck Higgins and Amos Wilburn.

'''Johnny "Guitar" Watson Jr.''' (February 3, 1935 – May 17, 1996) is an American blues singer and guitarist, best remembered for his hits "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" (1955) and "Gangster Of Love" (1957)

'''Johnny "Guitar" Watson''' (1935-1996) is an American blues singer and guitarist, best remembered for his hits "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" (1955) and "Gangster Of Love" (1957)

* FatalMethodActing: Died on stage in 1996, during a performance in Yokohama, Japan.

Though not a huge name in blues his music is widely acclaimed. Steve Miller covered "Gangster Of Love" in 1968. Music/StevieRayVaughan saw Watson as one of the best blues guitarists ever. Music/EttaJames went on record as saying: "I got everything from Johnny... He was my main model... My whole ballad style comes from my imitating Johnny's style... He was the baddest and the best... Johnny Guitar Watson was not just a guitarist: the man was a master musician. He could call out charts; he could write a beautiful melody or a nasty groove at the drop of a hat; he could lay on the harmonies and he could come up with a whole sound. They call Elvis the King; but the sure-enough King was Johnny 'Guitar' Watson." Music/FrankZappa saw him as one of his prime influences and especially liked the fact that his guitar solos were longer than those from other blues guitarists [[TheFifties at the time]]. "Three Hours Past Midnight" was one of his favorite records of all time, according to a 1975 interview for "Let It Rock" and a 1989 appearance in the American radioshow "Castaway's Choice". He also said that if he had to narrow his choices down to one record it would be that song. Later in his career Watson and Zappa became lifelong friends. Watson also performed on Zappa's albums ''Music/OneSizeFitsAll'' (1975), ''Music/ThemOrUs'' (1984), ''Music/ThingFish'' (1985), ''Make A Jazz Noise Here'' (1988).

!! References to Johnny 'Guitar' Watson in popular culture

Though not a huge name in blues his music is widely acclaimed. Steve Miller covered "Gangster Of Love" in 1968. Music/StevieRayVaughan saw Watson as one of the best blues guitarists ever. Music/EttaJames went on record as saying: "I got everything from Johnny... He was my main model... My whole ballad style comes from my imitating Johnny's style... He was the baddest and the best... Johnny Guitar Watson was not just a guitarist: the man was a master musician. He could call out charts; he could write a beautiful melody or a nasty groove at the drop of a hat; he could lay on the harmonies and he could come up with a whole sound. They call Elvis the King; but the sure-enough King was Johnny 'Guitar' Watson." Music/FrankZappa saw him as one of his prime influences and especially liked the fact that his guitar solos were longer than those from other blues guitarists [[TheFifties at the time]]. "Three Hours Past Midnight" was one of his favorite records of all time, according to a 1975 interview for "Let It Rock" and a 1989 appearance in the American radioshow "Castaway's Choice". He also said that if he had to narrow his choices down to one record it would be that song. Later in his career Watson and Zappa became lifelong friends. Watson also performed on Zappa's albums ''Music/OneSizeFitsAll'' (1975), ''Music/ThemOrUs'' (1984), ''Thing-Fish'' (1985), ''Make A Jazz Noise Here'' (1988).

* Music/FrankZappa listed Watson as an influence in the sleeve of his debut album ''Music/FreakOut'' (1966). He also references "Hot Little Mama" in "Road Ladies" from ''Music/ChungasRevenge''

* Music/FrankZappa references "Hot Little Mama" in "Road Ladies" from ''Music/ChungasRevenge''

His father was pianist, who taught him music. Johnny's grandfather, a preacher, gave him his first guitar, but told him to never play blues music, which still had a sleazy reputation in the 1930s and 1940s. Johnny evidently broke that promise and became first noticed after winning local talent shows. He started his career as a guitarist and pianist for other Jump Blues bands such as Chuck Higgins and Amos Wilburn.

* "Superman Lover" is used in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV''.