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Johnny Otis, 'Willie and the Hand Jive' Songwriter and R&B Icon, Dead at 90
- Posted on Jan 19th 2012 3:00PM by Jason MacNeil
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According to the Los Angeles Times, Otis -- born Johnny Veliotes -- was raised in Berkeley, CA, and began playing drums in his early 20s around the Los Angeles R&B scene which predominantly consisted of black artists performing with Otis, who was white. Today, he is considered by many to be the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues."
"When I got near teen age, I was so happy with my friends and the African American culture that I couldn't imagine not being a part of it," he said in a 1991 interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune.
In 1946, Otis wrote an instrumental 'Harlem Nocturne' which was later covered by the Viscounts in 1960. But Otis was also on the ground floor in terms of discovering talent; he was once asked to judge a Detroit talent competition and selected a youthful Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Willie John as winners. He would also produce emerging artists such as the late Johnny Ace, Little Richard and Big Mama Thornton.
In 1955, Etta James had a hit with the Otis-cowrite 'The Wallflower,' also known as 'Roll With Me, Henry.' But his biggest song would emerge shortly afterwards. Using Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley" backbeat as its base, 'Willie and the Hand Jive' would go on to be recorded by several musicians including George Thorogood and Eric Clapton.
Although his musical career effectively ended in the '70s, Otis spent recent years playing drums in a genre-spanning revue that touched on gospel, jazz, roots-rock and R&B.
He was also a published author, releasing 'Listen to the Lambs' in 1968, a "sociological critique" he penned in the aftermath of the turbulent Watts riots in California. He wrote another book, 'Upside Your Head! Rhythm and Blues on Central Avenue,' in 1994.
Otis hosted radio programs in Los Angeles and the Bay area as well. And in 1994, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aside from the arts, Otis also ventured into politics on a state and federal level, even serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
"RIP Johnny Otis," actor and Spinal Tap musician Harry Shearer tweeted upon hearing the news Jan. 19. "His band rehearsed across st. from my boyhood home, later we did shows on same radio station. And he had soul."
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Around The Web:
Johnny Otis World, Music and Art - Johnny Otis Official Web site
Hand Jive - The Johnny Otis Show - YouTube
Johnny Otis: inducted in 1994 | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and ...
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A terrible loss of the “Godfather of Rhythm & Blues” and a pioneer of rock. Rockaeology at http://bit.ly/w1gtz4 tells how Otis created the sound of “Hand Jive” by combining various elements: the sounds of a chain gang he heard while touring in the early 1950s; the Bo Diddley beat—three strokes/rest/two strokes; and the infectious handclaps of the 1952 song “Hambone,” recorded by Red Saunders and the Hambone Kids (and later adapted by kids' show host Sandy Becker).
January 21 2012 at 3:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNow that's some good stuff. I'm gunna go out and buy that record after school tomorrow.
January 20 2012 at 1:03 AM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplyGod Bless you John Otis. Your show made my teenage years livable as I watched you every day after school. Your opening - John Otis, John Otis I can still hear. And now to see you perform Willie and the Hand Jive along with the original Three Tons of Joy. Now that is a treat! My heart goes out to you Suggie.
January 20 2012 at 12:37 AM Report abuse Permalink +2 rate up rate down ReplySad to hear of the loss of Johnny Otis, an icon in the music world, especially R&B. I remember going to the city (NYC) in the 50's when Johnny Otis was playing with his band at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. He had the place jumping all the time. I'm sure I remember him doing musical bits with Little Esther, too. His music was "talking"!!
January 20 2012 at 12:37 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyYou mean ANOTHER white guy is the "king/godfather" of music originated by Blacks? Wow! How long before Eminem is the "king/godfather" of rap?
January 20 2012 at 12:20 AM Report abuse Permalink -3 rate up rate down ReplyYour point??
January 20 2012 at 9:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyim 64 and still douin that hand jive...still douin,that crazy hand jive!! r.i.p. love you johnny,the mayor.
January 20 2012 at 12:19 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyGod bless Jonny and God bless you too, kepp them hands a jivin'
January 20 2012 at 6:25 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMr. Otis was also quite a pigeon fancier! In the early '60's I'd see him at the LAPC (Los Angeles Pigeon Club). R.I.P. A very nice man!
January 19 2012 at 11:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI love it. Here's a guy who passed for black! God bless him!
January 19 2012 at 11:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyGet your facts straight. Johnny Otis was indeed a selfless and talented entertainer who started and nurtured the careers of countless R & B greats. But he did not compose "Harlem Nocturne." Maybe you have to be a songwriter to know how disrespectful it is to credit someone with the composition of a piece just because he's more famous than the real writers. In this case, Earl Hagen and Dick Rogers. And the year was 1939 not 1946. It takes such little effort to check these things out. See how you feel when someone attributes your work to someone else.
January 19 2012 at 10:51 PM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyHarlem Nocturne was his radio & T.V. show opening & closing theme song.
Who cares about trifle details, this was a great tribute to a great man "Oh Yea" like Johnny always said.
Had no idea he did the original of 'Harlem Nocturne". I didn't know there WAS an original; thought the Viscounts was the first. That is my second all time favorite instrumental of the rock era, behind the Paul Muriat '68 hit "Love is Blue"
January 19 2012 at 10:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
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