On the Wire - Radio Lancashire - Home

Friday, January 20, 2012

Johnny Otis RIP

R&B singer-songwriter and bandleader, the supercool Johnny Otis, died last week at the age of 90. Johnny produced and played on the first version of "Hound Dog," recorded by his discovery, Willie Mae "Big Momma" Thornton. Otis is also credited with discovering the Robins, Sugar Pie DeSanto, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, Jackie Wilson, and Little Willie John. He also played with Johnny Ace, Charles Brown, Big Joe Turner, Gatemouth Moore, Amos Milburne, Richard Berry, Joe Liggins, Roy Milton, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Charles Brown, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young, Louis Jordan, Roy Buchanan, Lionel Hampton, and the Count Basie Orchestra, and produced some early Little Richard
sides