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American musician (1935–1996)

John Watson Jr. (February 3, 1935 – May 17, 1996), often known professionally as Johnny "Guitar" Watson, was an American musician. A flamboyant showman and electric guitarist in the style of T Bone Walker, his recording career spanned 40 years, and encompassed rhythm and blues, funk and soul music. Watson recorded throughout the 1950s and 1960s with some success. His 1954 instrumental single "Space Guitar" was the first of his recordings to showcase his electric guitar playing. His creative self reinvention in the 1970s, with funk overtones, saw Watson have hits with "Ain't That a Bitch" and "Superman Lover". His highest charting single was 1977's "A Real Mother for Ya".

Watson was born in Houston, Texas. His father John Sr. was a pianist, and taught his son the instrument.

In his new city, Watson won several local talent shows. This led to his employment, while still a teenager, with jump blues style bands such as Chuck Higgins's Mellotones and Amos Milburn. Watson affected a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a taste for flashy clothes and wild showmanship on stage. According to music historian Larry Birnbaum, for "Space Guitar" he "came into his own as a guitarist". Watson would later influence a subsequent generation of guitarists. His song "Gangster of Love" was first released on Keen Records in 1957. It did not appear in the charts at the time, but was later re recorded and became a hit in 1978, becoming Watson's "most famous song". He toured and recorded with his friend Larry Williams, as well as Little Richard, Don and Dewey, the Olympics, Johnny Otis and, in the mid 1970s with David Axelrod. The title track, "A Real Mother for Ya", released in 1977, was Watson's highest charting single.

Watson's album Love Jones was released in 1980. The death of his friend Larry Williams by gunshot in 1980 and other personal setbacks, led to Watson briefly withdrawing from the spotlight in the 1980s. "I got caught up with the wrong people doing the wrong things", he was quoted as saying by The New York Times. playing vocoder on the track "I Can't Stand It" and singing on the track "Bo Diddley Is Crazy". "Johnny was always aware of what was going on around him", recalled Susan Maier Watson (later to become the musician's wife) in an interview printed in the liner notes to the album The Very Best of Johnny 'Guitar' Watson. "He was proud that he could change with the times and not get stuck in the past".

Watson died of a heart attack on May 17, 1996, collapsing on stage while on tour in Yokohama, Japan. He was 61. His remains were brought home for interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California and buried in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Enduring Honor, Holly Terrace entrance.

Year Single US label& no. Chart Positions US Pop USR&B UK 1955 "Those Lonely, Lonely Nights" RPM 436 – 10 – 1962 "Cuttin' In" King 5579 – 6 – 1967 "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"Larry Williams & Johnny Watson Okeh 7274 96 23 – 1968 "Nobody"Larry Williams & Johnny Watson with The Kaleidoscope Okeh 7300 – 40 – 1974 "Like I'm Not Your Man" Fantasy 721 – 67 – 1975 "I Don't Want to Be a Lone Ranger" Fantasy 739 99 28 – "It's Too Late" Fantasy 752 – 76 – 1976 "I Need It" DJM 1013 101 40 35 "Superman Lover" DJM 1019 101 19 – 1977 "A Real Mother for Ya" DJM 1024 41 5 44 "Lover Jones" DJM 1029 – 34 – 1978 "Love That Will Not Die" DJM 1034 – 59 – "Gangster of Love" DJM 1101 – 32 – 1979 "What the Hell Is This?" DJM 1106 – 83 – 1980 "Love Jones" DJM 1304 – 28 – "Telephone Bill" DJM 1305 – 45 – 1982 "The Planet Funk" A&M 2383 – 62 – 1984 "Strike on Computers" Valley Vue 769 – 77 – 1994 "Bow Wow" Wilma 72515 – 89 – 1995 "Hook Me Up" Wilma 72533 – 48 –