Johnny Otis dies at 90

[jaysunb]

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]

1. rest in peace

[Alameda]

2. RIP dear Johnny!

He was a great contributor to our generation............like the soundtrack of our time....

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[joeybee12]

3. Sad, but 90 is a nice age to get to...RIP Mr. Otis

[Brother Buzz]

4. Johnny Otis was a true Renaissance Man with a huge progressive voice

I followed him on SF bay area's KPFA for years. He was part of my life every Saturday morning.

[Tikki]

5. Oh Nos.....

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]

6. Johnny definitely had soul

RIP

[JohnnyRingo]

7. What an incredible legacy.

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]

8. Johnny Otis! Johnny Otis!

I used to listen to his show.

Time marches on. Who knows where it goes.

[dipsydoodle]

9. K & R

True loss that.

RIP.

[Hugabear]

10. K&R - IBTL

Before this gets locked as being "off-topic" , just wanted to give a K&R for this thread - great musician