‘Shaft’ Guitarist Charles ‘Skip’ Pitts Dies at 65

By ⋅ May 2, 2012 ⋅ Post a comment
Charles 'Skip' Pitts standing outside Stax Records in Memphis,TN. (Photo: Jacob Blickenstaff/Wikipedia)

Charles 'Skip' Pitts standing outside Stax Records in Memphis,TN. (Photo: Jacob Blickenstaff/Wikipedia)

“Theme from Shaft” opens with that irrepressible wah-wah lick.

The music for the blaxploitation classic “Shaft” is one of the coolest things, may be even the coolest thing about the movie.

Issac Hayes sang the theme and Charles “Skip” Pitts, the guitarist was responsible for the lick.

Pitts, who had been battling cancer for several years, died Tuesday. He was 65.

He grew up in Washington DC and got guitar lessons from his then-neighbor Bo Diddly.

But it was his 40 years in Memphis, working with Hayes, where he found his groove.


Discussion

3 comments for “‘Shaft’ Guitarist Charles ‘Skip’ Pitts Dies at 65”

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mizan-Nunes/1847532975 Mizan Nunes

    Charles Skip Pitts went beyond cool saying with his guitar analyze for yourself. Mizan Nunes

  • noonsnews

    Thank you Marco Werman for consistent good work.

  • ItenwrzpKvbrye

    Here is what just may be the definitive prog interpretation of this classic song.
     
    studio version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj7BOMfWOaw
    live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-poabRmXTI