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RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:21 pm
by kiramdear
The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues has passed away at the age of 90.
His biography is fascinating:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Otis
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:24 pm
by cjj
Aw, man!
R.I.P. Johnny...
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:31 pm
by kiramdear
I used to catch his Saturday morning radio show religiously on station KPFA here in San Francisco until he retired in 2006. He was irreverent, outspoken, and always highly entertaining. He is sorely missed.
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:07 pm
by jingle_jangle
I, too, used to listen to his show on KPFK in LA, in the '80s. It was on evenings back then.
Johnny was a white man who didn't see race as an issue. He married a black woman and lived in a black area of Altadena, CA, in the '80s and '90s. Then he moved up "here" to Sebastopol where he opened a blues club.
He had lots of great stories and as his bio will show, was responsible for giving a number of artists their initial breaks.
RIP, Johnny.
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:09 pm
by jingle_jangle
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 5:49 pm
by kiramdear
Thanks, Paul! I had it right the first time, then incorrected myself. Now it's fixed.
Johnny was a Greek guy who considered himself Black, for political reasons. I find that very typically Johnny.
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 6:20 pm
by jingle_jangle
...and if you listened to him, you thought he was black, too. He absorbed the patois and the entire identity. He was uber-cool and got respect from everybody who encountered him.
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:29 am
by doctorwho
cjj wrote:Aw, man!
R.I.P. Johnny...
+1
Re: RIP Johnny Otis
Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:06 am
by wints
A true inspiring visionary who laid the foundation for many to follow. 4 score and ten is a very good innings, and Johnny has left a fine legacy...