Johnny Otis, White, Heads “Negro” Blues Band
From his drummer’s seat, Johnny Otis lends drive, smart, direction, and warm personality to the best blues and rhythm band in the West. His manner is typical of blues purveyors and his dress is in the slightly-exaggerated style of musicians. He is handsome, husky and white-the only white man leading an otherwise all-Negro blue group.
Of Greek descent, Otis prefers to ignore the question of race. Ever since he began playing drums professionally in Northern California, he as associated closely with Negro entertainers.
One night, a teen-age girl vocalist walked in, took an audition, and immediately made a hit with Otis and the Barrelhouse audience. He quickly offered her a contract, named her “Little Esther.” She “made” the band.
Jet
April 3, 1952
**********************************************************************************
Nab Etta James, male dressmaker on “Bedroom” Rap
When police went to the Indianapolis Travelodge to serve singer Etta James with a Chicago fugitive warrant charging her with defrauding an innkeeper of #1,329, they reported they found her in a room with her male dressmaker, Jon Destiny, and quickly added the charge of being “in the bedroom of a member of the opposite sex.” Miss James, 25, was later released on the fugitive charge after posting a $1,500 bond. She was also released, along with Destiny on their own recognizance on the “bedroom” charge. They are to appear in court on April 11.
From Jet Magazine, Page 26
Issue: April 4, 1963
**********************************************************************************
Musician/producer/songwriter Johnny Otis is one of the founding fathers of modern r&b. He is credited with discovering Esther Phillips, Little Willie John, Big Mama Thornton and Etta James; with writing hit songs “With Every Beat Of My Heart,” “So Fine” and “Dance With Me Henry,” and he scored heavily in the pop field with “Willie & the Hand Jive.” A proficient musician who began as a jazz drummer, Otis is the producer for Laff’s Gospeltone and Jazz World labeis and is responsible for an R7B oldies series on Laff’s blues Spectrum label which includes 13 volumes to date.
Billboard
Jan 7, 1978
**********************************************************************************
Jazz Great Esther Phillips Succumbs In Los Angeles
Jazz singer Esther Phillips who popularized such standards as Release Me and What A Difference A Day Makes, died recently of cirrhosis of the liver on Los Angeles. Ms. Phillips was 45.
Ms. Phillips had been ill for the past six months and had been hospitalized for six weeks, according to her manager Jack Hooke.
Born in Houston, Tex., and reared in Los Angeles, “Little Ester.” As she was affectionately called in the beginning of her career, started singing in church when she was six. She turned professional at age 13after winning a contact at the Johnny Otis Club in Los Angeles…
Jet
August 20, 1984
**********************************************************************************
Etta James Files Suit Over “Back To Future” Tune.
Alleging she has not received one dime for the use of her tune Dance With Me Henry in the blockbuster flick Back To The Future, singer Etta James recently filed suit against her record company and manager. In the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Ms. James charged Kent Music Inc., Kent Records Inc. and her manager, Johnny Otis, failed to pay her royalties on the song and denied her proper accountings for the income from the tune.
Jet
March 3, 1986
Posts
