Charles “Skip” Pitts

[blkjazz]

Charles “Skip” Pitts died today. Skip is the guy playing the wah wah on Shaft as well as the guitar lick on Its Your Thing by the Isley Brothers. He was Isaac Hayes’ guitarist for over 30 years and also worked with Wilson Pickett, Gene Chandler and Cyndi Lauper.

[jads57]

There must be one a hell of an R&B band up in heaven!

[norumba]

damn, sorry to hear this.

Despite its fame, 'theme from Shaft ' is still a masterpiece of wah for intricate rhythmic manipulation/accentuation and tone. That application of developing polyrhythmic phrases and crossrhythms by wah alone still is the benchmark , milestone, and bar for me.

It really was genius -- the clean 16th note hi-hat grid and using only one pitch (maybe two, as a grace note) , isolates all the rhythmic /phrasing development and interest to the wah - and he delivered.

This was a huge inspiration for me - I've tried to take the concept and apply it to east Indian rhythmic patterns in my own work. Still working on that, but I owe him a huge debt.


He'll be most remembered for that , but his work throughout the Hayes catalog and with others was equally skilled and tasty.

[markophonic]

[t***9]

Here's a story and a good photo. RIP Mr. Pitts:

'Shaft' guitarist Charles 'Skip' Pitts dies at age 65

Amanda Edwards / Getty Images Contributor

By Alexis L. Loinaz, E! Online

Charles "Skip" Pitts, the revered soul guitarist whose iconic guitar riff for the "Theme From Shaft" helped make both the song and its eponymous movie pop-culture touchstones, has died. He was 65. According to a rep for the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Pitts passed away in Memphis on Tuesday after a battle with cancer.

Pitts' storied career was marked by his fertile, 40-year collaboration with Isaac Hayes, whose band he joined in 1970. Their work on the Shaft soundtrack signaled a definitive and watershed moment in the blaxploitation film movement, pushing it to the forefront of the pop consciousness and giving black filmmakers a foothold -- and a sound. The Washington, D.C.-born musician began playing well before his teens and was mentored by Bo Diddley, who was a neighbor. Aside from his collaboration with Hayes, Pitts was also a session musician for Stax Records and played alongside music greats including Al Green, Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett. His work with the Isley Brothers also produced another iconic song, "It's Your Thing."

Pitts continued to be a prolific musician well into his final years. He and his band, The Bo-Keys, released an album last year, and he also performed on the soundtracks to Hustle & Flow, Black Snake Moan and Soul Men.

[Spencer Smith]

My parents were just in town visiting here in Memphis, so i took them to Stax.
As we were exiting, we saw they were setting up for a concert.
We asked what was going on and they said it was a fundraiser for Skip Pitts.
They invited us to stay, but we felt horribly imposing and underdressed to attend the event.
So, we declined.

I was sad to see that Mr. Pitts died just one week later.

[blkjazz]

Skip was a good guy as well as a great guitar player. He contributed so much. I am proud to say he was my friend.

[Pa'ani]

R.I.P. Charles "Skip" Pitts prayers and condolences to his family and friends...

[Soul Man]

Much respect, much sadness. RIP

[blues24]

RIP Skipp...