Spontooneous Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 LA Times is reporting his death. link The attribution is a little iffy, and Johnny's own website doesn't confirm. Quote
Dan Gould Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 If its true, its sad that another important figure in American music of the last century is gone. I came close to ordering one of his books for myself over the holidays but decided to keep to my budget. Can anyone recommend between the several books he wrote? I'd be more interested in his experiences in the music than his socio-political views but I understand if one can't really be separated from the other. So I guess its a question of "which one concentrates the most on the music?" Quote
JSngry Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 I think Upside Your Head would be exactly what you're looking for, Dan. RIP to Mr. Otis, and let's all play Snatch And The Poontangs as a history lesson in his honor. Quote
Dan Gould Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks. Pretty sure I'd rather read his memoir than Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story by a professor of black studies and sociology. It may have its place but I'd much rather read from the guy who experienced it, not the sociological ramifications asserted by an academic. Quote
fasstrack Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 LA Times is reporting his death. link The attribution is a little iffy, and Johnny's own website doesn't confirm. Serious question: What became of son guitarist Shuggie Otis? He got some play years ago, then the press seemed to drop him like he had a disease. Anyone know his doings? He seemed pretty talented. Quote
JSngry Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 Otis gonna give you his own "sociological ramifications", trust me! But they are indeed his, and nobody can accuse him of not having the 100% + cred to make them. I find his writing refreshing, bracing, and totally absent of cheap sweetness, not unlike a good after-shave. Quote
king ubu Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 r.i.p. Johnny Otis Got to spin that fine Pres date again with him on the drums! Quote
medjuck Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 I think Upside Your Head would be exactly what you're looking for, Dan. RIP to Mr. Otis, and let's all play Snatch And The Poontangs as a history lesson in his honor. I read it quite a while ago and quite enjoyed it. He used to have a radio show in LA that I loved. He'd ask listeners to call in so I called and told him I'd just been listening to his band backing Ben Webster on Mercury. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 LA Times is reporting his death. link The attribution is a little iffy, and Johnny's own website doesn't confirm. Serious question: What became of son guitarist Shuggie Otis? He got some play years ago, then the press seemed to drop him like he had a disease. Anyone know his doings? He seemed pretty talented. According to wikipedia, he may have a new release out this year. Quote
Big Beat Steve Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 This is very sad, though at 90 it was to be expected. Thanks for the great music and for all your talent scouting, Mr Otis! I think Upside Your Head would be exactly what you're looking for, Dan. RIP to Mr. Otis, and let's all play Snatch And The Poontangs as a history lesson in his honor. I read it quite a while ago and quite enjoyed it. He used to have a radio show in LA that I loved. He'd ask listeners to call in so I called and told him I'd just been listening to his band backing Ben Webster on Mercury. I agree that Upside Your Head is the one to go for if you primarily want the story of his music (though that one could have been fleshed out a little here and there but probably it never was meant to be a full documentary in the stricter sense of the word). Have started reading Midnight At The Barrelhouse but put it away for the time being as the "sociological" doings became a bit overbearing a bit too early in the book (and in places where the story of teh music ought to have predominated) IIRC but will probably pick it up again shortly. Have never read Listen To The Lambs but understand this dwells pretty much on societal issues too (understandably, considering the time it was written). Quote
paul secor Posted January 19, 2012 Report Posted January 19, 2012 (edited) A man who wore many hats - band leader, musician, song writer, talent scout, record label owner, disc jockey, author - to name some of them. And a man who gave the impression of enjoying the life he lived. Thanks, Mr. Otis. We're all one of a kind but some, like you were, are just a little more so. Edited January 19, 2012 by paul secor Quote
zootsi Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 A great loss - one of the grand daddies of r&b. His live albums are among the best live r&b recordings. I believe Shuggie passed away several years ago. Quote
Dan Gould Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 According to the NY Times obit Shuggie and his other sons survive him, as well as his wife of 70 years, Phyllis. Quote
ValerieB Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 LA Times is reporting his death. link The attribution is a little iffy, and Johnny's own website doesn't confirm. Serious question: What became of son guitarist Shuggie Otis? He got some play years ago, then the press seemed to drop him like he had a disease. Anyone know his doings? He seemed pretty talented. someone told me that Shuggie is married to Gerald Wilson's daughter. Quote
Big Wheel Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 True. Shuggie's kid is both wilson's and johnny otis's grandson. Quote
ValerieB Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 True. Shuggie's kid is both wilson's and johnny otis's grandson. i wouldn't mind having those genes!! LOL Quote
Big Wheel Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 RIP to Mr. Otis, and let's all play Snatch And The Poontangs as a history lesson in his honor. Who the heck was Delmar "Mighty Mouth" Evans and why didn't he do much with anyone besides Otis? Quote
skeith Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 According to the NY Times obit today, Johnny was 100% Greek. I sort of remember thinking Shuggie giving the impression he was african-american. Quote
JSngry Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 Shuggie's mom was African-American. Quote
Noj Posted January 20, 2012 Report Posted January 20, 2012 I backed into Johnny Otis' recordings by exploring Shuggie's stuff. Cool music. RIP Quote
Hoppy T. Frog Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 Are there any anthologies that give a good overview of Johnny Otis' work? Perhaps spmething from our good friends at Ace/Kent? Quote
Big Beat Steve Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) Are there any anthologies that give a good overview of Johnny Otis' work? Perhaps spmething from our good friends at Ace/Kent? Aside from the two "The Legendary Johnny Otis Show" vinyl twofers on Savoy (OOP but not impossible to find secondhand, I guess), you will be served pretty well at Ace indeed: http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=53&searchtype=1&searchterm=Johnny+Otis This one has a very good cross-section of 50s Otis band and Otis dicoveries recordings combined with period radio spots and announcements (sometimes a bit contrived but well ...): http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=849 This one also gives a nice overview http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=8754 but this one looks tempting among the 50s stuff too as a lot of it is previously unissed and therefore should fill a few gaps: http://www.acerecords.co.uk/content.php?page_id=59&release=453 Edited January 21, 2012 by Big Beat Steve Quote
paul secor Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 (edited) This corvers his early years with Savoy. This one covers his rock 'n roll years with Capitol. Snatch & the Poontangs is a rerelease of two albums - Cold Shot - Johnny Otis' "comeback album - and Snatch & the Poontangs - down & dirty - lyrically & musically - r&b. Rock Me Baby is a European collection of his Mercury and Peacock sides - worth the price just to hear Ben Webster on "One Nighter Blues". edit: Dig These Blues is a great compilation of blues sides produced by Johnny Otis for his Ultra, Dig, and Eldo labels in the 1950's and early 1960's. Edited January 21, 2012 by paul secor Quote
JSngry Posted January 21, 2012 Report Posted January 21, 2012 There was the Savoy CD box set... Quote
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