Wah-Wah Watson

Melvin M. Ragin (December 8, 1950 – October 24, 2018), known professionally as Wah Wah Watson, was an American guitarist who was a member of the Funk Brothers, the studio band for Motown Records. He also worked extensively as a session musician in a variety of genres from jazz and pop to R&B.

Career Ragin was a native of Richmond, Virginia. His father, Robert Ragin, was a minister, and his mother, Cora (Brown) Ragin was an evangelist. She bought him his first guitar when he was 15.

He moved to Detroit in the 1960s 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. His nickname stemmed from "wonderfully textured sounds" he conjured using a wah-wah pedal to alter the sound of his electric guitar; he bought his first pedal after hearing Motown studio guitarist Dennis Coffey use one.

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, Alicia Keys' Unplugged (2005), and The Element of Freedom (2009). In 2010, Wah Wah Watson collaborated with alternative soul artist Res to create the song, "For Who You Are" on the Black Girls Rock album. The song is frequently played as a classic Chicago, Illinois "stepping" dance song with over 10 million views on youtube.

Death Watson died on October 24, 2018, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. He was 67. He was survived by two sisters, two brothers, and his wife, Itsuko Aono. In a statement, Aono said, "Wherever he is, he’s groovin’.”

Discography

As leader Elementary (1976)

As sideman With Herbie Hancock Death Wish (soundtrack) (1974) Man-Child (1975) Secrets (1976) VSOP (1977) Feets, Don't Fail Me Now (1979) Monster (1980) Mr. Hands (1980) Dis Is Da Drum (1994)

With others The Beach Boys, L.A. (Light Album) (1979) George Benson, Love Remembers (1993) George Benson, Songs and Stories (2009) Yung Berg, Look What You Made Me (2008) Blondie, Autoamerican (1980) Donald Byrd, Thank You...For F.U.M.L. (Funking Up My Life) (Elektra, 1978) Cher, Take Me Home (1979) Four Tops, Nature Planned It (1972) Marvin Gaye, Let's Get It On (1973) Gloria Gaynor, "I Will Survive" (1978) Dizzy Gillespie, Free Ride (1977) John Lee Hooker, Free Beer and Chicken (1974) Thelma Houston, Ride to the Rainbow (1979) Bobbi Humphrey, Satin Doll (1974) Janet Jackson, Damita Jo (2004) Michael Jackson, Off the Wall (1979) Michael Jackson Bad (1987) The Jackson 5, ABC (1970) Quincy Jones, Body Heat (1974) Quincy Jones I Heard That!! (1976) Quincy Jones, Q's Jook Joint (1995) Illya Kuryaki and the Valderramas, Versus (1997) Labelle, Chameleon (1976) Maysa Leak, Out of the Blue (2002) Love Unlimited, Under the Influence of... (1973) The Love Unlimited Orchestra, Rhapsody in White (1974) Maxwell, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (1994) Maxwell, Now (2001) Brian McKnight, Brian McKnight (1992) Brian McKnight, I Remember You (1995) Meshell Ndegeocello, Plantation Lullabies (1993) Meshell Ndegeocello, Peace Beyond Passion (1996) The Supremes, High Energy (1976) Pointer Sisters, Steppin' (1975) Martha Reeves, Martha Reeves (1974) Rose Royce, Car Wash (1976) Boz Scaggs, Slow Dancer (1974) The Temptations, All Directions (1972) The Temptations, Masterpiece (1973) Tyrese, Black Rose (2015) The Undisputed Truth, The Undisputed Truth (1971) Vanessa L. Williams The Comfort Zone (1991) Stevie Wonder, Conversation Peace (1995)