Otis Blackwell (February 16, 1931 – May 6, 2002) [not be confused with another songwriter and producer Robert "Bumps" Blackwell] was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist, whose work significantly influenced rock and roll. His compositions include Little Willie John's "Fever", Jerry Lee Lewis' "Great Balls of Fire" and "Breathless", Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender" (with Winfield Scott), and Jimmy Jones' "Handy Man".
He first became famous by winning a local talent contest ("Amateur Night") at the Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York in 1952, which led to a recording contract with RCA and then with Jay-Dee. His first release was his own composition "Daddy Rolling Stone"
His first successes (as a songwriter) came in 1956 when Little Willie John's R&B hit with the sultry "Fever"
FEVER was an even bigger pop success for Peggy Lee…
Then, "All Shook Up" (first recorded by David Hill on Aladdin) began a highly profitable association with Elvis Presley, who was credited as co-writer.
Some of the songs he composed include:
"All Shook Up" (Elvis Presley)
"Don't Be Cruel" (Elvis Presley--inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002)
"Fever" (as "John Davenport")
Besides so many others (Little Willie John, Peggy Lee, etc.); also a GREAT version by The McCoys…
"Great Balls of Fire" (Jerry Lee Lewis-- inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998)
"Breathless" (Jerry Lee Lewis and others)
"Hey Little Girl" (Dee Clark)
"Handy Man" (Jimmy Jones, Del Shannon, James Taylor)
Legacy (This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)
Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo. 1991: Inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell. The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up") http://youtu.be/wv6kWLGWhFQ
Blondie's Debbie Harry ("Don't Be Cruel") http://youtu.be/pzFPz3HyMro
Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")
CHECK OUT THE WHOLE BRACE YOURSELF TRIBUTE HERE… http://www.discogs.com/Various-Brace-Yourself-A-Tribute-To-Otis-Blackwell/release/1562617
By the way: Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.) did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this tribute album!
Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.
"Return to Sender" (Elvis Presley)
Legacy (This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)
Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.
1986: Otis Blackwell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
1991: Inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell. The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up") http://youtu.be/wv6kWLGWhFQ
Blondie's Debbie Harry ("Don't Be Cruel") http://youtu.be/pzFPz3HyMro
Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")
CHECK OUT THE WHOLE BRACE YOURSELF TRIBUTE HERE… http://www.discogs.com/Various-Brace-Yourself-A-Tribute-To-Otis-Blackwell/release/1562617
By the way: Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.) did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this tribute album!
Blackwell was named one of the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This category encompasses those who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry
Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:
NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music.
The Otis Blackwell Legacy
(This Info Courtsey of Wikipedia)
Otis Blackwell was one of the greatest R&B songwriters of all time. His songwriting style is as uniquely identifiable as that of Leiber and Stoller, Chuck Berry, or Willie Dixon and helped redefine popular music in America in the 1950s. This is true even though he often collaborated with such partners as Winfield Scott, Eddie Cooley, and Jack Hammer. Blackwell was one of the most important innovators who helped invent the musical vocabulary of rock & roll at its very beginning. Blackwell's works have been recorded into immortality by a host of other major figures in the record field, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Who, Johnny Thunders, Billy Joel, James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Conway Twitty, The Judds, Carl Perkins and Peggy Lee, among numerous others. At other times in his career, Blackwell has also been successful as a record producer, having helped turn out hits with artists as diverse as Connie Francis, Mahalia Jackson and Sal Mineo.
1986: Otis Blackwell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
1991: Inducted into the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1994, Shanachie Records released Brace Yourself! A Tribute to Otis Blackwell.
The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up")
The album features 15 Blackwell-penned tracks recorded by the likes of Kris Kristofferson ("All Shook Up")
Also on the album: The Smithereens ("Let's Talk About Us"), Graham Parker ("Paralyzed") and Ronnie Spector ("Brace Yourself")
By the way:
 |
| Crispin Cioe: Radio King, Uptown Horns, J. Geils, Rolling Stones, to name a few of the acts with whom he's been associated... |
Detroit’s own Crispin Cioe (Radio King, etc.) did all the horn arrangements and played baritone sax on this Otis Blackwell tribute album!
Blackwell was named one of the 2010 recipients of Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This category encompasses those who primarily work behind the scenes in the music industry
Otis Blackwell died in 2002 of a heart attack and was interred in Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
Check out the
CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:
CHANCELLOR OF SOUL STORY ON OTIS BLACKWELL:
(NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music)
Chancellor of Soul, Mike Boone presents his internet radio
show, 'Show Facts' a show highlighting the history of legendary artists and their music)
OTIS BLACKWELL:
THE UNSUNG HERO OF R&B!
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