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. Career. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Melvin Ragin moved to Detroit and became a member of the Motown Records studio band The Funk Brothers, where he recorded with artists like The Temptations (his guitar work on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is particularly notable), The Jackson 5, the Four Tops, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and The Supremes. 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. In 1977, Watson released his first solo album, "Elementary", on Columbia Records. The album was co-produced by Watson and David Rubinson. In 1994, Watson appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album, "". 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). Death. Watson died on October 24, 2018, at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica. Discography. As sideman. With Herbie Hancock With others