Indelible and as evocative as hell, the wah-wah pedal riff that heralds the coming of Shaft, “the black private dick that’s a sex machine to all the chicks,” is one of those great sonic movie moments that elevate a film into the mythical. And the guitarist playing that riff was Stax studio musician and a member of Isaac Haye’s band, Charles “Skip” Pitts. Sadly, Pitts died on May 1 of lung cancer. He was 65.

The ‘Shaft’ part was created because Isaac needed something driving for the beginning of the movie, when (actor) Richard Roundtree is coming out of the subway and walking through Times Square,” Pitts told Guitar Player in an interview regarding the song. “I was checking my pedals. I tested my overdrive, my reverb, the Maestro box, and then I started in with the wah. Isaac stopped everything and said, ‘Skip, what is that you are playing?’ I said, ‘I am just tuning up.’ He said, ‘Keep playing that G octave.’”

Pitts also played the ultra-funky licks on The Isley Brothers’ “It’s Your Thing” and Rufus Thomas’s “The Breakdown.” Soul sauce slathered on thick and juicy.

Here’s Pitts playing the riff that will always be associated with his name at his last gig in Memphis on the eve of a brand new year, 2012.
 

 
Thanks to Spinner and The Black Rock Coalition.