Johnny Otis R.I.P. 1921-2012

Watch some classic clips, below: "Willie and the Hand Jive," "The Signifyin' Monkey"

By Fred Mills

The R&B world lost a legend Tuesday, Jan. 17: bandleader Johnny Otis, who passed away at his Los Angeles-area home at the age of 90. No specific cause of death has been announced yet but it's known he had been in poor health for some time.

Otis, the son of Greek immigrants, grew up in the African-American section of Berkeley; his swarthy skin complexion led some to think he was black himself, an impression that was bolstered by the type of music he performed - jazz, blues, and eventually hard-charging R&B that would land him numerous times in the Billboard charts. Among his hits: "Harlem Nocturne" and "Willie and the Hand Jive."

In addition to fronting a succession of bands that included the Johnny Otis Orchestra and the Johnny Otis Show, he was a radio DJ, a TV host and an author (must reading: his 1968 part-memoir/part-history lesson Listen to the Lambs, which was inspired by his experiences during and in the aftermath of the 1965 Watts riots in L.A.). He also worked closely with artists who would go on to be legends in their own rights: Etta James, Hank Ballard, Big Mama Thornton. He also sired two sons, Shuggie and Nicky, plus two daughters, with Shuggie going on to considerable musical fame himself.

The Johnny Otis Show traveling R&B revue, which featured a 16-year old Shuggie on guitar, became famous in the ‘70s and toured the world, attracting the kudos of Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and many other musicians who owed him stylistic debts.