Johnny Otis

Genres:	R&B / Soul, Vocals
Decades Active:	1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s
Search for Artist on:	OLDIES.com, Wikipedia, Flikr (photos), YouTube (videos)
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Biography

Ioannis Veliotes, 28 December 1921, Vallejo, California, USA. Born into a family of Greek immigrants, Otis was raised in a largely black neighbourhood where he thoroughly absorbed the prevailing culture and lifestyle. He began playing drums in his mid-teens and worked for a time with some of the locally based jazz bands, including, in 1941, Lloyd Hunter's orchestra. In 1943, he gained his first name-band experience when he joined Harlan Leonard for a short spell. Some sources suggest that, during the difficult days when the draft was pulling musicians out of bands all across the USA, Otis then replaced another ex-Leonard drummer, Jesse Price, in the Stan Kenton band. In the mid-40s Otis also recorded with several jazz groups, including Illinois Jacquet's all-star band and a septet led by Lester Young, which also featured Howard McGhee and Willie Smith.

In 1945, Otis formed his own big band in Los Angeles. In an early edition assembled for a...

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Clearance Products:

Capitol Years (Audio CD)

Featured Products:

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Rock 'N Roll Hit Parade (Audio CD)	Spirit of the Black Territory Bands (Audio CD)

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