There doesn't seem to be much on video of Wah Wah Watson from the 1970's on YT .. So here he is with Herbie Hancock keyboards; Bennie Maupin - flute and reeds; Paul Jackson - bass; James Levi -drums .. TV program Denmark
Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson is my uncle! Just celebrated his passing last week!! This video is so awesome and thanks for posting!!! Just seeing him with that Gibson L5 which was given to him by Ray Parker Jr. He played on a lot of hit records to include Let’s Get It On, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, Car Wash, I Will Survive, Maxwell’s first cd and so many other records!! Miss you Unc but I hear you almost everyday still on the radio!!!! RIP!!!!!!!!
I have to disagree. As a white guy who absolutely, under any circumstances, no matter the penalty or prize, can not dance - listening to that, and watching physical effect it had on the musicians, made me, for at least a moment, 100% cooler.
if you think you need anything to make you cool or look cool than you will always be lame bro... quit being a typical brainless mainstream media fed sheeple and be original... all of you zombies americans are just clones of each other and that's why you can be categorized... you will never have an intellect nor the ability to ever have any original thought
R.I.P to the great Mr. WATSON! And all the legendary men of the past that paved the way for a young black musician as my self to even get the opportunities I have now. ❤ Hope I can do the same.
Wen I was little I loved the music I grew up with in the '70's. What I loved the most is how these awesome musicians were just cool down to earth people. It was all about love, good vibes, oneness. These musicians put out genius stuff but always were humble and brought so much good energy to the people. It wasn't about being a star, or getting rich. Love supreme was the mindset and we need to just keep that going cuz it brings out the best in us all. 👍💕💕💕🦋🦋🦋
Obviously, the music is wildly great but I also just love the esthetic of 70's TV. The overlayed, bluescreen shots they use to feature 2 players at once, the way the sax reflects the studio lights and the camera just can't handle it so it produces that pink glow, muah! Chef's kiss!
First of all, Paul Jackson is probably the most underrated bassist. Funky is an understatement. Benny Maupin, Wah Wah, are killers. Miss this era of music. Of course, Herbie is the Man!!!
Wow I listened to this because it has Herbie Hancock in it, but have to admit that around 8:30, the saxophone player stole the show and never gave it back.
Wah Wah Watson was a GOAT. I've been playing guitar 49 years. He's the Truth. I grew up with professional musicians. My Uncle Don Myrick (EWF, Phil Collins, MJ)...comes to mind seeing him in the Pharaohs, rehearsing in the living room turned into a Woodwind/Sax Rehearsal studio, infused with African Incense, African Art. It brings you to time everything was real, not sampled. Instant creativity. I will be picking up some of Wah Wah's funky phrases...
To his nephew, I saw him with Herbie Hancock, Sheila E. ( before Prince). At Red Rocks.What was extraordinary was we got there early and they were setting up the stage. No musicians were out there except for him sitting on a folding chair playing, but it didn’t sound like any guitar sounds . No one was at the keyboard setup and it wasn’t until the show started that we realized it was him the whole time. By the way we are all musicians. One of the high points of my musical life 😢🎉❤
One of the best things about attending concerts during the '70's and '80's was how much the musicians enjoyed experimenting with different sounds on standards and hit recordings. Rarely did they perform a song exactly as it was presented on the album. Concerts were for pushing the envelope and branching out to new horizons.
@@JJJJJVVVVVLLLLL When digital recording and sequencing started to happen in the late 80’s, that gave musicians options for robot accompaniment. You could make music sound more perfect at the expense of its honesty. Soul-killing!
Maupin's sax solo on Herbie's out-chord is so FIRE and SOULFUL! and last Herbie's solo reminds me a "peaceful funk world" :D yeah! 2022, he is doing the same thing! keep doing todays music! what a man! Herbie Forever!
Saw Herbie in Berlin Germany in early 2000's I could not believe the accoustics, or the funk which he produced. I thought I was inside a speaker cabinet during the whole show.
"WoW" I have known about Herbie for the longest time but Wah-Wah Watson, I never heard of before!! Just like the late Eva Cassidy after she died in 1996, the music industry realized her work & 'worldwide' she became popular & she was selling cd's out of the trunk of her car when she was playing, she died at age 33!!
The Saddest day in my life, when I left this Vinyl Masterpiece in the back window of my Buick 76 Duece n a Quarter after a Saturday Night party, woke up on a Bright Sunday afternoon with a Deathly Shudder remembering this was left in a Sealed Oven warped Oh the Agony when I pulled it out the Furnace 😢
Every piece fits...and when you step back, listen to everyone as one-instrunent...the picture they paint is glorious!! And jazzy at it is...it's still approchable; it never leaves the audience behind and baffled. And nobody grandstands except the horn man. But they have too; its in their union rules. Just Sublime
It is incredible it all fits. Each one pulling the fabric of time, then letting go. Like a spider hanging onto its web in a summer rain storm. Uniform and strong but so close to ripping.
If you were one that read the back of album covers, you know Wah Wah worked plenty. In the ‘70s he was everywhere. As a guitarist myself, I loved his playing. I was a Headhunters fan too. This makes me want to perform again. Let’s see, where is my dashiki?
Yeah Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson is my uncle and he had no shortage of work even thru all of the changes of music and the business!! Unc is my hero and he always told me work and develop your own sound! He said the people will call you for your sound! Unc truly had his sound down!!!!
Love it… saw them in Terre Haute, Indiana, fall of 1976 … we were wannabe musicians in HS. We stayed after and the band came back to tear down, etc. They talked… nicest, humblest guys… great memories.
Melvin Ragin aka Wah Wah Watson Is a very good friend of mine we went to school sometimes together our Junior High School was around the corner from where I live he would tell me Belton when I graduate that he would go on the road and join a big band He did it like he said he would my buddy and Inspiration always💕🎶🌹👌
Many have no idea that this man is playing on the song" Cloud 9" by the Motown Temptations & that changed the sound of soul in the late 60's and early 70's. I played on the stage with him myself( as my mom and dad watched)along with the soon to be Drummer and song writer for the Jimmy Caster Bunch(Elwood Henderson). And on our break at a local club in his and our hometown of Richmond VA. He was with Motown and told us about 5 young cats from Gary Indiana he had done sessions with. Exactly 2 weeks later the Jackson 5's 1st hit came over the local Radio airwaves, "I WANT YOU BACK". And the rest was history.The bassist also with him went on to play with Bobby Taylor and the Van Cougars and then with Donny Hathaway his name was( bassie )Irvin Saunders and can be seen on the flip Wilson 70's show with Donnie Hathaway.Elwood and myself were kids of 16 years old at the time. The year was 1969.
Awesome... Thank for sharing that story. Yes when Motown hired Norman Whitfield to produce for them, Me!vin & Ray Parker were his go to guitar players. Mr Whitfield used Melvin on many many sessions that he produced. He was an amazing and funky guitarist.
Beautiful story! I Grew up in Motown with the kids of Motown legends. I love every part of that musical experience. I played the drums and was the funky white boy!! Great times
Musicians from the 90’s and back just have a purity you can’t fake or artificially create. Especially 70’s era. They just knew their instruments and were in total sync with them. Thank the human innovation of today that allows us to see them though.
Wah Wah used to come in to the flower shop I worked in on Sunset Blvd. back in the early '80s, he was a friend of the owner. I enjoyed his visits, always upbeat and smiling, RIP.
I play Keyboards, bass and guitar. This is a musical orgasm for me. Best of the best, making music history. Thanks for sharing this iconic performance.
So much sonic texture here and self-awareness in regards to the impact of volume levels. Nothing is ever in your face, everyone is pulling together for one lush and groovy ride. Spectacular!
Especially on old recordings like that, a lot of jams and concerts were filmed like shit, like focusing on the wrong musician and zooming on their face. This particular one with the tasteful special effects and cool camera angles is awesome
There is no one like this man and it's good to see Mr Hancock at a young age and the original Headhunters but man Mister wild wild Watson was one of a kind God bless him 🙏
The GREAT musician, composer, producer, engineer, etc…Herbie Hancock and the gang. A GREAT human being in general as well. Great respect to such an honorable and accomplished professional. Definitely one of the Greatest of time…🔥🔥🔥🔥💯😎👍🏾. R.I.P to another great in this lineup, “Wah Wah Watson”. He played on so many hits. A spectacular talent. Keep on coming with it Herbie . Blessings…🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾 for the memories.
The jazzfunk masterclass from the tv right into your living room. That was even rare back then. Anyway its always a pleasure to listen to musicians who can play this tight together. Its a expression of what can ppl do together in a very positive way.
