Wah Wah Watson facts for kids

Melvin M. Ragin (born December 8, 1950 – died October 24, 2018), known by his stage name "Wah Wah Watson," was an American guitarist. He was a very important member of The Funk Brothers, who were the main studio band for Motown Records. This means they played the music for many famous singers and groups.

A Musician's Journey

Melvin Ragin was born in Richmond, Virginia. He later moved to Detroit, a city famous for its music. There, he joined The Funk Brothers, the amazing group of musicians who played on almost all the hit songs from Motown Records.

He played guitar on many classic songs for artists like The Temptations. His guitar work on their song "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is especially famous and easy to recognize. He also played for The Jackson 5, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and The Supremes.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Wah Wah Watson played on countless recordings for top soul, funk, and disco artists. He worked with legendary musicians such as Herbie Hancock. He even helped write songs for the Pointer Sisters.

In 1977, Wah Wah Watson released his very own album called Elementary. It was his first solo project and showed off his unique guitar style.

Later, in 1994, he was part of a special album called Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. This album was created by the Red Hot Organization to help raise money and awareness about the AIDS epidemic, especially in the African American community. Time magazine even called it the "Album of the Year."

In the 2000s, Wah Wah Watson continued to play on many popular albums. Some of these included Maxwell's Now (2001), Angie Stone's Black Diamond (2000), and the soundtrack for the movie Shaft (2000). He also played on albums for Janet Jackson (Damita Jo, 2004) and Alicia Keys (Unplugged, 2005).

Later Life and Passing

Wah Wah Watson passed away on October 24, 2018. He died at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Music He Made

Wah Wah Watson was a talented musician who played on many recordings.

His Own Album

• Elementary (1976)

Playing for Others

Wah Wah Watson played guitar for many famous artists. Here are some of them:

• The Beach Boys
• George Benson
• Blondie
• Cher
• Four Tops
• Marvin Gaye
• Gloria Gaynor
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Herbie Hancock
• John Lee Hooker
• Janet Jackson
• Michael Jackson
• The Jackson 5
• Quincy Jones
• Labelle
• Love Unlimited
• The Love Unlimited Orchestra
• Maxwell
• Brian McKnight
• Meshell Ndegeocello
• Pointer Sisters
• Rose Royce
• Boz Scaggs
• The Temptations
• Tyrese
• Vanessa L. Williams
• Stevie Wonder

See also

In Spanish: Wah Wah Watson para niños