Written and first recorded by Herbie Hancock (US #121 1962).
Hit versions by Mongo Santamaria Band (US #10/R&B #8 1963), Gloria Lynne (US #62/R&B #8 1965), Erroll Garner (US #40 1968).
Also recorded by Jon Hendricks (1963), Manfred Mann (1965), Herbie Hancock (1973).
From the wiki: “‘Watermelon Man’ was written by Herbie Hancock and first released on his debut album, Takin’ Off (1962) in a hard bop arrangement featuring improvisations by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and saxophonist Dexter Gordon. Hancock wrote the piece to help sell his debut album as a leader; the first piece of music he had ever composed with a commercial goal in mind. Hancock has described that, structurally, the composition was one of his strongest works due to its almost-mathematical balance.
“It was while Hancock was filling in for pianist Chick Corea in Mongo Santamaría’s band at a nightclub in The Bronx that Hancock played the tune for Santamaría at friend Donald Byrd’s urging. Santamaría started accompanying Hancock on his congas, then the band joined in, and the small audience slowly got up from their tables and started dancing. Santamaría later asked Hancock if he could record the tune. On December 17, 1962, Mongo Santamaría recorded a three-minute version, suitable for radio, and included the track on his album Watermelon Man (1962).”
“Jazz lyricist Jon Hendricks set words to the composition and recorded it on Jon Hendricks Recorded in Person at the Trident (1963). Hendrick’s version was also cut by Manfred Mann to be released on the UK hit EP, The One in the Middle and on the US release of their album The Five Faces of Manfred Mann (1965). Jazz singer-songwriter Gloria Lynne added a different set of lyrics to the tune with Hancock’s permission, and recorded her version in 1965 which charted on both the pop and R&B charts in the US. Erroll Garner’s instrumental version also nudged the Billboard Top 40 in 1968.
“Hancock re-recorded ‘Watermelon Man’ for Head Hunters (1973), a recording that has been sampled numerous times since, including ‘1-900-LL-Cool-J'(1989) by LL Cool J.”
Mongo Santamaria Band, “Watermelon Man” (1963):
Jon Hendricks, “Watermelon Man” (1963):
Gloria Lynne, “Watermelon Man” (1965):
Manfred Mann, “Watermelon Man” (1965):
Erroll Garner, “Watermelon Man” (1968):
Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man” rerecording (1973):