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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJohnny Otis dies at 90
Johnny Otis, who is white, grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and had a deep connection to black culture. He discovered Etta James and Little Richard.
Pioneering rhythm-and-blues singer, songwriter, drummer, bandleader and disc jockey Johnny Otis made the kind of conscious life choice early on that few people have the inclination, or circumstance, to carry out.
Born white, the son of Greek immigrant parents, and raised in a predominantly black neighborhood in Northern California in the 1920s, Otis decided as a youth that he'd rather be black.
The choice put him on a path to a life in music during which he created the sensually pulsing 1958 hit "Willie and the Hand Jive." It also gave him a deep connection to black culture that helped him discover such future stars of R&B and rock as Etta James, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Esther Phillips.
http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-johnny-otis-20120119,0,2183487.story
RIP.. his fingerprints are all over my life.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)Alameda
(1,895 posts)He was a great contributor to our generation............like the soundtrack of our time....
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,420 posts)I followed him on SF bay area's KPFA for years. He was part of my life every Saturday morning.
Tikki
(14,557 posts)Mr. Tikki will be so sad. Johnny was beyond amazing. He did it all and I mean all.
We'd make trips off and on to Sebastopol just to see him.
I hope everyone knows how important his influence on popular music was.
The man was amazing.
rip Johnny Otis...
The Tikkis
Kingofalldems
(38,452 posts)RIP
JohnnyRingo
(18,628 posts)It sounds like he was just like the Vanilla Ice and Kid Rock of his time, except he actually grew up around African Americans and had talent.
RIP Johnny, and thank you for your vast contribution to my music collection.
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)I used to listen to his show.
Time marches on. Who knows where it goes.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)True loss that.
RIP.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)Before this gets locked as being "off-topic" , just wanted to give a K&R for this thread - great musician