BACKROADS OF AMERICAN MUSIC » Johnny

Johnny Guitar Watson – A Real Mother For Ya

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:56:30 +0000

t play any of the “devil’s music”–blues. Watson agreed, but “that was the first thing I did.” A musical prodigy, Watson played with Texas bluesmen Albert Collins and Johnny Copeland. He quickly made a name for himself in the African-American juke joints of the West Coast, where he was billed as “Young John Watson” until 1954. That year, he saw the Sterling Hayden film “Johnny Guitar,” and a new stage name was born. He affected a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a taste for …

Superman Lover – Johnny “Guitar” Watson (1976)

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:32:56 +0000

new city, he found employment, while still a teenager, with jump-blues-style bands such as Chuck Higgins’ Mellotones and Amos Milburn. He worked as a vocalist, pianist, and guitarist, and quickly made a name for himself in the African-American juke joints of the West Coast, where he was billed as “Young John Watson” until 1954. That year, he saw the Sterling Hayden film “Johnny Guitar”, and a new stage name was born. He adopted a swaggering, yet humorous personality, indulging a taste …