John Watson was born in Houston, Texas, on February 3, 1935. He died in a heart attack in Yokohama (Japan) on May 17, 1996. Performer, singer, guitarist and songwriter. Moved with his family to Los Angeles in the 1950s. 1950; played in West Coast jazz and blues bands, 1950-53; signed to Federal label, 1953; released experimental instrumental single “Space Jam,” 1953; released single “Gangster of Love,” later covered by Steve Miller, 1957; toured with Little Richard, late 1950s; toured Britain with vocalist Larry Williams, mid-1960s; signed with Fantasy label, 1972; recorded with Frank Zappa on Zappa’s One Size Fits All LP, 1975; signed with DJM label, 1976; series of successful blues-funk albums, 1976-80; signed with Bellmark label, 1994. from http://www.rockabillyhall.com