Nightly News | May 04, 2012
Remembering ‘Shaft’ guitarist Charles Pitts
The Memphis guitar player who contributed to the ‘Shaft’ theme song has died at the age of 65. NBC’s Brian Williams reports.
Share This:
Music
-
Paul Anka: How I helped discover the Beatles
TODAY
May 20, 2013 -
Exploring singer Jack Johnson’s Hawaii
TODAY
May 20, 2013 -
Taylor Swift reacts to PDA at Billboard Awards
TODAY
May 20, 2013 -
Piano Guys perform Taylor Swift’s ‘Begin Again’
TODAY
May 17, 2013 -
Avril Lavigne is ‘Never Growing Up’
TODAY
May 17, 2013 -
Pistol Annies ‘Feel a Sin Comin On’ in Studio 1A
TODAY
May 16, 2013 -
‘Voice’ star: It was an emotional season
TODAY
May 16, 2013 -
Elvis Duran: Nikki Williams’ voice ‘fills up the room’
TODAY
May 15, 2013 -
Trace Adkins: You can’t ‘Say No to a Woman”
TODAY
May 15, 2013 -
Trace Adkins to KLG, Hoda: You’re always drunk
TODAY
May 15, 2013 -
Trace Adkins shows softer side with ‘Love Will’
TODAY
May 15, 2013 -
‘Idol’ alumna Jessica Sanchez performs ‘Tonight’
TODAY
May 14, 2013
This content comes from a Full-Text Transcript of the program.
BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor: Music business is also remembering the man who figured out how to make his guitar sound like this.
WILLIAMS: Ah, that's the instantly recognizable wah-wah pedal guitar rift at the top of the theme soft to "Shaft." It gave Richard Roundtree the prefect New York City walking music. It was performed by Charles "Skip" Pitts , that part, a longtime Memphis side man for Isaac Hayes , among others. He also came up with the guitar line in the Isley Brothers ' "It's_Your_Thing." Skip Pitts was 65 years old.