Happy Birthday to a son of Vallejo, CA....Ioannis Alexandres Veliote...Johnny Otis....an American singer, musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, talent scout, disc jockey, record producer, television show host, artist, author, journalist, minister, and impresario. A seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll, Otis discovered artists such as Little Esther, Big Mama Thornton, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John and Hank Ballard. Known as the original King of Rock & Roll, he is commonly referred to as the Godfather of Rhythm and Blues. Otis was born to Greek immigrants Alexander J. Veliotes, a Mare Island longshoreman and grocery store owner, and his wife, the former Irene Kiskakes, a painter. He had a younger sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Nicholas A. Veliotes, former U.S. Ambassador to both Jordan (1978–1981) and Egypt (1984–1986)). He grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Berkeley, California, where his father owned a neighborhood grocery store. Otis became well known for his choice to live his professional and personal life as a member of the African-American community. He wrote, As a kid I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black. He was the father of musicians Shuggie Otis and Nicholas Otis. I mean, HOW COOL IS THIS GUY? https://youtube/watch?v=qOrQTh_Cq7U
Posted on: Sun, 28 Dec 2014 14:20:10 +0000
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