Johnny Otis was an influential performer, disc jockey, record producer, TV show host and talent scout.
He is credited with discovering such artists as Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, Hank Ballard, Big Mama Thornton
and Little Esther….
Otis scored 15 Top 10 R ‘n B hits between 1950 and 1952, including his #1 cover of the jazz standard “Harlem Nocturne.”
Not only was he ultra talented, he could spot it in others. Johnny opened up his own club in L.A., the Barrelhouse, to showcase his discoveries…When Etta James only 13 years old, Johnny produced and co-wrote her first hit single “Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry).”
He also discovered Big Mama Thornton singing while cleaning hotel rooms. He co-wrote, produced and played on her seminal recording of “Hound Dog” in 1953, several years before Elvis Presley brought the song to the charts; however Otis’ songwriting credit was removed from Elvis’ recording by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. “Every Beat of My Heart” was a hit tune he wrote for The Royals in 1952…
And, of course, Gladys Knight & The Pips had a hit with the same tune in 1961….
Johnny Otis produced Johnny Ace’s number one hit “Pledging My Love”
and The Fiestas’ classic hit “So Fine”
—He was also playing on those two hit records!
He’s most remembered for a 1958 release that climbed all the way to #9 on the Pop charts and #1 R ‘n B; that song with the infectious Bo Diddley beat and terrific guitar work by Jimmy Nolen, “Willie and the Hand Jive.”
The “Hand Jive” dance came from England where teenagers were not permitted to stand and dance at concert venues. Instead they created a hand movement dance that could be done from their seats.
It’s also been said that the “Hand Jive” was also slang for masturbation…
Eric Clapton had a #26 chart hit with the song in 1974, as had Johnny Rivers in 1973. George Thorogood also had a minor chart hit with the song in 1985...
Johnny Otis was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1994. He died of natural causes on January 17, 2012.
R.I.P. Johnny Otis, the original
KING OF ROCK ‘n ROLL…
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