If they come in threes, there must be some nervous R & B musicians out there!
Johnny Otis, musician, club owner, disc jockey, songwriter, producer, radio and TV host, often called "the godfather of R & B", at age 90. His real name was Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes, and both his parents were Greek immigrants, but he identified with the African-American music community and adopted the lifestyle. Best known for authoring "Willie and the Hand Jive" and "Every Beat of My Heart", he also helped artists like Etta James (see below), Jackie Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips, Hank Ballard and Johnny Ace. He was also a politician, pastor and successful organic farmer, and his music career spanned 70 years. He had two sons, Shuggie (John) Otis, a guitarist, and Nick, a drummer, who played in his band, and until a couple of years ago, hosted a radio show out of the Powerhouse Brewery in Sebastopol CA that featured live music by his band and others.
Etta James (born Jamesetta Hawkins), best known for her versions of songs like "Dance With Me, Henry", "At Last", "Tell Mama", and "I'd Rather Go Blind", at age 73. She won six Grammy Awards, as well as numerous others, and was often named among the top singers in music polls. She suspected her father was pool hall legend Minnesota Fats, although it was never confirmed. She was discovered by Johnny Otis in the early 1950's, and referred to him as her "guru" during the speech she gave to induct him when he entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
James herself had been inducted into the Hall in 1993. She recorded for Argo, a Chess Records label for most of her career, and opened for the Rolling Stones in the late 1970's before falling victim to drug addiction which lasted into the mid-1980's. She had two sons, Donto and Sametto who played drums and bass, repectively.
At last....
I had heard that Etta James was very ill Last week.
She was great..
She claimed and others too that she was the illegitimate daughter of Minnisota Fats.
He always denied it.
I have seem both in public in my life and there was a definite resembelance with each other.
At last....
Back in summer 2002, we went to see (what was left of) The Hollies, who were on a brief tour of the US. In the middle of the show, at a club in the Mohegan Sun casino,they stopped and pointed to a woman sitting at a ring side table, and introduced her....it was Etta James.
Those who knew who she was were hoping she would come up for a number or two, but she just waved and stayed at the table.
Two iconic figures in the blues world, for sure. I'll never forget the "Johnny Otis Revue", I was also a big fan of Shuggie Otis way back when he was 16-17 years old and playing lead guitar for his Dad.
Etta James was Etta James, and 'nuf said. What a voice, what a woman.
Everybody capo up to bflat, Etta's on next..
