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Johnny Otis

Greek-American musical entertainer (1921–2012)

Johnny Otis, born Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes, was an American singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, talent scout, and preacher. He was a seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll.

He discovered numerous artists early in their careers who went on to become highly successful in their own right, including Little Esther Phillips, Etta James, Alan O'Day, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Ace, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, Hank Ballard, The Robins, and Sugar Pie DeSanto, among many others. Otis has been called the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues".

From Wikipedia, shared under CC BY-SA. Read the whole page
Admit one
Johnny Otis
what
one person
from
Vallejo
born
1921
until
2012
on the air here
1 song

File card: Johnny Otis

real name: Ιωάννης Αλέξανδρος Βελιώτης (Ioannis Alexandros Veliotis)

labels: Savoy Records, Duke Records, Capitol Records

genres: rock music, jazz fusion

awards: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

plays: piano, voice, vibraphone

member of: The Johnny Otis Show

Facts from Wikidata and Discogs, free to use.

r&brockrock and roll
The Airwaves CourierExtra

Music career

Otis began playing drums as a teenager, having bought a set by forging his father's signature on a credit slip. Soon after, he dropped out of Berkeley High School, in his junior year. He joined a local band, the West Oakland House Rockers, with his pianist friend "Count" Otis Matthews. By 1939, they were performing at many local functions, mostly in and around Oakland and Berkeley, and were popular among their peers.

From Wikipedia, shared under CC BY-SA. Read the whole page
American bandleader, musician, talent scout, author & label owner. Born December 28, 1921 Vallejo, California, USA. Died January 17, 2012 Alta Dena, California, USA. Father of guitarist & drummer . Otis founded the Ultra Records label in 1956 along with Frank Gallo, Eddie Mesner and Leo Mesner. When they discovered another label by that name already existed they changed the name of the label to Dig Records. In 1960 Otis founded the Eldo records label. Otis was involved in virtually every aspect of the music business. He helped to shape the R&B genre starting in the late 1940s and stayed involved in it for over 30 years. He had his own music variety show from 1954-5, The Johnny Otis Show. He played many instruments, going with ease on stage from the piano to the vibraphone to the drums to the guitar and more. He was inducted into Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 (Non-Performer). Also known as: -J. Otis-, . Otis, Eldo, Gribble, I. Otis From Discogs (free to use). Their entry

Liner notes

Johnny Otis, the records, oldest first
  1. Stone Down Blues
    1970 album
  2. Nothin' but the Blues
    1995 album
Records from MusicBrainz; covers from the Cover Art Archive.
Johnny Otis on the air

Side A: on Broken Record Radio

  1. Low Down Dirty Dog Blues

Underlined songs have their story further down.

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