Watermelon Man (song)

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Watermelon Man is a jazz song written by Herbie Hancock which first appeared on his 1962 album, Takin' Off. A radically reworked version appeared in 1973 on his Head Hunters album. (Also in 1973, The J.B.'s, James Brown's backing band at the time, recorded a cover of the song.)

The 16 bar form of "Watermelon Man" is considered an elongated 12 bar blues form.

The most commercially successful rendition was Mongo Santamaria's 1962 version, on his album which is also entitled Watermelon Man. In 1998 that recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 1963, legendary jazz lyricist Jon Hendricks set words to the song and recorded it. Hendricks invented the technique of creating lyrics for jazz classics called vocalese.

In 1964, the song was covered by Bill Haley & His Comets for the Orfeon Records label; it was retitled "Surf de la Sandia".

Another song, also called "Watermelon Man", by Oscar Brown jr, appears on Brown's 1960 album Sin & Soul ...And Then Some.

Watermelon Man features a strong percussion section accenting on vibes and drums. The many high trumpet parts also add to what many would say is "The Euphoria of Watermelon Man". This phrase became famous after the first time Herbie Hancock listened to his song performed by a big-band group. It was described as "euphoric".It also contains the boogie beat 5409 on the piano. Also the piano part inclued an intricate and colorful selection of quality chords.

The primary hook in the introduction to the song is believed to have come from African Pygmy tribal music. (Anne Rasmussen, 2007)