Junior Watson is an American

jump blues Jump blues is an up-tempo style of blues, usually played by small groups and featuring horn instruments. It was popular in the 1940s and was a precursor of rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Appreciation of jump blues was renewed in the 1990s as ...

guitarist and singer.

Career

Watson is a

West Coast blues West Coast blues is a type of blues music influenced by jazz and jump blues, with strong piano-dominated sounds and jazzy guitar solos, which originated from Texas blues players who relocated to California in the 1940s. West Coast blues also ...

guitarist. He was a founding member of the blues band The Mighty Flyers and, starting in the early 1980s, he performed with the band for a decade. He also performed with

Canned Heat Canned Heat is an American band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1965. The group is noted for its efforts to promote interest in blues music and its original artists and rock music. It was founded by two blues enthusiasts Alan Wilson and Bob ...

throughout the 1990s. Watson has performed as a backing musician in

performances A performance is an act of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function. Management science In the work place ...

and

recordings A record, recording or records may refer to: An item or collection of data Computing * Record (computer science), a data structure ** Record, or row (database), a set of fields in a database related to one entity ** Boot sector or boot record, r ...

for a number of blues musicians, including

Big Mama Thornton Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton, was an American singer and songwriter of the blues and R&B genres. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's " Hound Dog", in 1952, which becam ...

, George Smith,

Jimmy Rogers Jimmy Rogers (June 3, 1924December 19, 1997) was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters's band in the early 1950s. He also had a solo career and recorded several popu ...

Luther Tucker Luther Tucker (January 20, 1936 – June 18, 1993) was an American blues guitarist. While soft-spoken and shy, Tucker made his presence known through his unique and clearly recognizable guitar style. Tucker helped to define the music known as ...

Charlie Musselwhite Charles Douglas Musselwhite (born January 31, 1944) is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the white bluesmen who came to prominence, along with Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, and Elvin Bishop, as a pivotal f ...

Mark Hummel Mark Hummel (born December 15, 1955) is an American blues harmonica player, vocalist, songwriter, and long-time bandleader of the Blues Survivors. Since 1991, Hummel has produced the Blues Harmonica Blowout tour, of which he is also a featured p ...

John Németh John Németh (born March 10, 1975) is an American electric blues and soul harmonicist, singer, and songwriter. He has received two Blues Music Awards for Soul Blues Male Artist in 2014 and Soul Blues Album in 2015. He has recorded ten albums sin ...

, Michael "Pink" Arguello, and

Kim Wilson Kim Wilson (born January 6, 1951) is an American blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known as the lead vocalist and frontman for the Fabulous Thunderbirds on two hit songs of the 1980s, " Tuff Enuff" (which was the group's only Top 40 ...

Discography

As leader

* ''Long Overdue'' – 1994 (Black Top 1099) * ''Back To Back'' – 1998 (Crosscut CCD 11059) with

Lynwood Slim Lynwood Slim (born Richard Dennis Duran, August 19, 1953, Los Angeles, California; died August 4, 2014) was an American blues harmonica player and singer. Slim was best known as a singer in the style of smooth easy jazz/blues, as well as his harm ...

* ''If I Had A Genie'' – 2002 (Heart & Soul 10799) * ''Jumpin' Wit Junior'' – 2012 (Regal Radio Records 10038) * ''Live From Outer Space'' – 2012 (Bluebeat Music 103) with The Red Wagons * ''Nothin' to It But to Do It'' – 2019 (Little Village Foundation 1033)

Session works (in alphabetical order)

Kid Andersen Christoffer "Kid" Andersen (born 15 January 1980) is a blues guitarist from Herre, Norway. By age 11, Andersen had gained the attention of Norwegian blues guitar teacher, Morten Omlid, who steered him towards traditional blues music. In 2001, ...

– ''Rock Awhile'' – 2003 (Blue Soul 2312) * Bharath & His Rhythm Four – ''Friday Night Fatty'' – 2007 (Fatty 2078) * Bishop / Milite – ''North South East West'' – 2004 (Sovereign Records) with

JW-Jones JW-Jones (born July 15, 1980) is a Canadian blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and band leader. He is a Juno Award nominee (2015), ''Billboard'' magazine Top 10 Selling artist, and winner of the International Blues Challenge for "Best Self-Produ ...

, and

Gary Primich Gary Primich (April 20, 1958 – September 23, 2007) was an American blues harmonica player, singer, guitarist and songwriter. He is best known for his 1995 album, ''Mr. Freeze''. Biography Gary Alan Primich was born in Chicago, Illinois, b ...

* Big Al Blake & The Hollywood Fats Band – ''Mr. Blake's Blues'' – 1997 (Blue Collar 7108) * Brenda Burns – ''A Song Away From You'' – 1997 (Big Boss) *

– ''

Reheated ''Reheated'' is the twelfth album by Canned Heat, released in 1988. It features two members of the band's classic lineup, Fito de la Parra and Larry Taylor. Among the titles, "Bullfrog Blues" was originally on the B-side of the first single record ...

'' – 1988 (SPV 858805; Chameleon/Elektra 89022) * Canned Heat – ''Burnin ive– 1991 (SPV 848857) * Canned Heat – ''Live in Australia'' – 1993 (Aim 1003) * Canned Heat – ''Internal Combustion'' – 1994 (Aim 1044) * Canned Heat – ''Canned Heat Blues Band'' – 1997 (Rowyno 5020; Ruf 1040) * Chicago Flying Saucers – ''LIVE'' – 1997 * William Clarke – ''Can't You Hear Me Calling'' – 1983 (Watch Dog 1005) * William Clarke – ''Tip of the Top'' – 1987 (Satch 102; Double Trouble etherlands3016; King Ace 1063) * William Clarke & Junior Watson – ''Double Dealin 983 sessions– 2010 (Bluebeat Music 102) * Teisco Del Rey – ''The Many Moods of Teisco Del Rey'' – 1992 (Upstart 007) *

Johnny Dyer Johnny Dyer (December 7, 1938 – November 11, 2014) was an American electric blues harmonica, harmonicist and singer. He made numerous sound recording and reproduction, recordings, both as a solo performer and with other musicians. He was nomin ...

– ''Johnny Dyer & The L.A. Jukes'' – 1983 (Murray Brothers, 1004;

Blind Pig A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an illicit establishment that sells alcoholic beverages, or a retro style bar that replicates aspects of historical speakeasies. Speakeasy bars came into prominence in the United States d ...

5028) *

James Harman James Gary Harman (June 8, 1946 – May 23, 2021) was an American blues harmonica player, singer, and songwriter. The music journalist Tony Russell described Harman as an "amusing songwriter and an excellent, unfussy blues harp player". Biogra ...

– ''Thank You Baby'' – 1983 (Enigma 1033) * James Harman – ''Extra Napkins'' – 1988 (Rivera 505; Cannonball 29102) * James Harman – ''Mo' Na'kins, Please!'' – 2000 (Cannonball 29112) *

Shakey Jake Harris James D. "Shakey Jake" Harris (April 12, 1921 – March 2, 1990) was an American Chicago blues singer, harmonicist and songwriter. He released five albums over a period of almost 25 years. He was often musically associated with his nephew Magic ...

– ''The Key Won't Fit'' – 1983 (Murray Brothers, 1002) *''Blues Harp Meltdown Vol 1'' – 2000 (Mountain Top 101) with

, Rick Estrin, James Harman,

Billy Branch Billy Branch (born William Earl Branch, October 3, 1951) is an American blues harmonica player and singer of Chicago blues. Branch is a three-time Grammy nominee, a retired two-term governor of the Chicago Grammy Chapter, an Emmy Award winner, ...

and others *

– ''Hard Lovin' 1990s'' – 1992 (Double Trouble etherlands3029) *

– ''Bluelisted'' – 2008 (

NorthernBlues Music NorthernBlues Music is a Canadian independent record label, which specializes in blues music. The label was established in 2001, and a number of its artists and albums have since been nominated for and won Blues Music Awards. President Fred Litwi ...

0046) *

Candye Kane Candice Caleb (November 13, 1961 – May 6, 2016), known professionally as Candye Kane, was an American blues singer, entertainer and adult film star. She loved to sing as a young girl and even appeared on "The Gong Show," as a kid. She dreame ...

– ''Guitar'd And Feathered'' – 2007 (Ruf Records 1127) * Mitch Kashmar Featuring Junior Watson – ''Nickels & Dimes'' – 2005 (Delta Groove 103) * Mitch Kashmar – ''Wake Up & Worry'' – 2006 (Delta Groove 109) *

John "Juke" Logan John "Juke" Logan (September 11, 1946 – August 30, 2013) was an American electric blues harmonica player, musician, singer, pianist and songwriter. He is best known for his harmonica playing on the theme music for television programs (''Home I ...

– ''The Chill'' – 1993 (Virgin

rance Rance may refer to: Places * Rance (river), northwestern France * Rancé, a commune in eastern France, near Lyon * Ranče, a small settlement in Slovenia * Rance, Wallonia, part of the municipality of Sivry-Rance ** Rouge de Rance, a Devonian re ...

87834-2; Mocombo Records 55006) *

– ''Lost in America'' – 1991 (Black Magic etherlands9017) *

Janiva Magness Janiva Magness (born January 30, 1957) is an American Grammy Award nominated blues, soul music, soul, and Americana (music), Americana singer, songwriter, and author. To date she has released 16 albums. The Blues Foundation named Magness the B.B ...

& Jeff Turmes – ''It Takes One To Know One'' – 1997 (Fathead 1001) * Mark Hummel – ''Lowdown to Uptown'' – 1997 (Tone Cool 1169) * The Mighty Flyers – ''Radioactive Material'' – 1981 (Right Hemisphere 6457) * The Mighty Flyers – ''File Under Rock'' – 1984 (Tacoma 7108) * The Mighty Flyers – ''From The Start to the Finnish'' – 1985 (Right Hemisphere 8568) * The Mighty Flyers – ''Undercover'' – 1988 (Special Delivery SPD 1020) * The Mighty Mojo Prophets – ''The Mighty Mojo Prophets'' – 2011 (Rip Cat Records 1102) *

– ''In My Time'' – 1993 (Alligator ALCD 4818) * Charlie Musselwhite – ''Rough News'' – 1997 (Point Blank/Virgin 42856) * Dan E Bungee – ''Jamm'in With Junior'' – 2002 (East Coast Left Coast Sessions) *

featuring Junior Watson – ''Come And Get It'' – 2004 * John Németh – ''Magic Touch'' – 2007 (

5109) *

Rod Piazza Rod Piazza (born December 18, 1947, Riverside, California) is an American blues harmonica player and singer. He has been playing with his band The Mighty Flyers, which he formed with his pianist wife Honey Piazza, since 1980. Their boogie sound ...

– ''Harpburn'' – 1986 (Murray Brothers, 1008; Black Top 1087) *

Snooky Pryor James Edward "Snooky" Pryor (September 15, 1919 or 1921 – October 18, 2006) was an American Chicago blues harmonica player. He claimed to have pioneered the now-common method of playing amplified harmonica by cupping a small microphone in his ...

– ''In This Mess Up to My Chest'' – 2000 (Antone's 0028) * Raoul and The Big Time – Cold Outside – 2004 (Big Time Records BTRCD-002) * Raoul and The Big Time – You My People – 2009 (Big Time Records BTRCD- 004) * Raoul and The Big Time – Hollywood Blvd – 2014 (Big Time Records BTRCD -006) *

Kid Ramos Kid Ramos (born January 13, 1959) is an American electric blues and blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. Ramos has released four solo albums since 1995 on Black Top and Evidence Records. He has worked with James Harman, Roomful of B ...

– ''West Coast House Party'' – 2000 (Evidence 26110) * The Red Wagons – ''Jumpin' With Friends!'' – 2012 (independent release/CD Baby) with

Sugar Ray Norcia Sugar Ray Norcia (born Raymond Alan Norcia, June 6, 1954, Stonington, Connecticut, United States) is an American electric and soul blues singer and harmonica player. He is best known for his work with his backing band, The Bluetones, with who ...

Mitch Woods Mitch Woods (born April 3, 1951, Brooklyn, New York City, United States) is an American modern day boogie-woogie, jump blues and jazz pianist and singer. Since the early 1980s he has been touring and recording with his band, the Rocket 88s. W ...

, Igor Prado, and Sax Gordon Beadle *

Sonny Rhodes Clarence Smith (born Clarence Edward Mauldin; November 3, 1940 – December 14, 2021), known as Sonny Rhodes, was an American blues singer and lap steel guitar player. He recorded over two hundred songs. "I'm what you call a self-proclaimed Di ...

– ''I Don't Want My Blues Colored Bright'' – 1976 (Amigo CD 9024) * Rob Rio – ''Banking on the Boogie'' – 1992 (Boss 004) * Rob Rio – ''Fine Young Girl'' – 1994 (Boss 005) * Rob Rio – ''Swing Train'' – 1996 (Boss 006) *

– ''Feelin' Good'' – 1984 (Murray Brothers, 1006; Blind Pig 5018) * Andy Santana & The West Coast Playboys – ''Swingin' Rockin' Jumpin' & Jivin – 1998 * Gary Smith – ''Blues For Mr. B'' – 2001 (Mountain Top) *

George "Harmonica" Smith George "Harmonica" Smith (born Allen George Smith, April 22, 1924 – October 2, 1983) was an American electric blues harmonica player. Apart from his solo recordings, Smith is best known for his work backing both Muddy Waters and Big Mama Thornt ...

– ''Boogie'n With George'' – 1982 (Murray Brothers, 1001; Blind Pig 5049) * Bill Stuve – ''Big Noise'' – 1990 (Tramp 9906) * Nick Trill – ''Juggling The Blues'' – 1999 * Billy Watson – ''Blowin' Crow'' – 2007 * Billy Watson – ''Lucky 7'' – 2009 *

– ''Tiger Man'' – 1993 (Antone's 0023) * Kim Wilson- ''That's Life'' – 1994 (Antone's 0034) * Kim Wilson – ''My Blues'' – 1997 (Blue Collar 7107) * Various artists – ''The Blues You Just Would Hate To Lose, Volume 1'' roject sampler– 1996 (Right on Rhythm)

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Junior Year of birth missing (living people) Living people American blues guitarists American male guitarists American blues singers Jump blues musicians West Coast blues musicians Canned Heat members Place of birth missing (living people)