Tuesday, September 10, 2013

CALIFORNIA BORN AND BRED

What the fuck. Johnny Otis did everything. He sang, played piano and drums, was a band leader, producer, songwriter, and arranger, had his own radio show, and his own TV show. He discovered Little Esther, Big Mama Thornton, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John and Hank Ballard. And he knew when a song required an F-bomb, it deserved to be included (the second line of "The Signifying Monkey"). Few things instill California pride in me like Johnny Otis. It's the same feeling I get from the Flamin' Groovies' "Teenage Head". Does anyone else get that?



~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:
Johnny Otis Rhythm and Blues Caravan - Midnight In The Barrelhouse mp3 at Ole Miss Media 1947 
Johnny Otis Show - I Believe I'll Go Back Home mp3 at Ole Miss Media 1969
Johnny Otis - The Signifying Monkey mp3 at Discos y Monstuos 1968
Johnny Otis - Harlem Nocturne mp3 at A Terrible Blogger 1945
Johnny Otis - Hit That Jive Jack mp3 at A Tumblr (?)
Video:
The Johnny Otis Show at YouTube 28 minutes Check Otis with Lionel Hampton, going off at 24:44
Every Beat of My Heart - The Johhny Otis Story at YouTube Short clip
Visit:
Johnny Otis at Wikipedia
Johnny Otis at The Hound Blog

2 comments:

snakeboy said...

Hell, if Johnny Otis says he's black, he's black. I'm not going to argue with him.

Tom G. said...

Hear, hear! Couldn't agree more. That's one of the coolest things about him.