Houston-born Johnny "Guitar" Watson was a solid blues guitarist in the '50s and '60s before he re-invented himself as the funk god that George Clinton surely studied the style of. Early on he played with Albert Collins, Amos Milburn, Johnny Otis and others. Around '67 he made a very hip record with his friend Larry Williams and the US psych band The Kaleidoscope! ("Nobody"). He recorded with Frank Zappa and then David Axelrod in the mid 70s before his huge funk hits "Ain't That A Bitch" and "A Real Mother For Ya". The Gangster of Love also recorded with Dr Dre. He died onstage in Japan.
"Gangster of Love", King 45 style: