Birthday wishes go out to Johnny Otis, a Bay Area Greek who became one of the most prominent figures in the history of R&B. Otis turns 84 today. He was born Ioannis (Yannis) Veliotes in Vallejo, California. He took up the drums as a kid and later learned piano and vibraphone. At the age of 18, he began playing music professionally; by 1943, at the recommendation of Nat “King” Cole and Jimmy Witherspoon, he had relocated to Los Angeles and joined Harlan Leonard’s Kansas City Rockets at the Club Alabam. By ’45, he had his own band and scored a hit with “Harlem Nocturne.” In ’48, he joined with Bardu & Tila Ali and Johnny Miller to open The Barrelhouse in Los Angeles, the first nightclub to feature exclusively R&B. Around this time, he discovered saxophone player Big Jay McNeely. He went on to find Etta James (For whom he produced the hit “Roll With Me, Henry”), Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard, Willie Mae “Big Momma” Thornton, and “Little” Esther Phillips.
“Happy New Year, Baby” is a pistol of a song from 1948, featuring a duet between Cathy Cooper and Lemuel Tally; it’s very reminiscent of the duets between Mel Walker and Little Esther. Big Jay McNeely is featured on tenor sax; Tally also played baritone sax in Otis’ band.
Dig these lyrics:
If you love me sweet and pretty
I’ll buy you a big brass bed
If I catch you cheating
I’ll fill you full of lead
We’ll move from the profane to the sacred, with a gorgeous song summing up all the hope and fear that the year’s passing brings. Dan Wilson, lead singer of Semisonic, offers “What A Year For A New Year.” December 31 tends to make one look back, often with regret and a wish for a “do-over.” Sunday morning will bring a new year — emphasis on new — and another chance to get it right.
Earlier this year, I read So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star by Semisonic’s drummer Jacob Slichter, and it was one of the best rock ‘n’ roll books I’ve ever read, which surprised me greatly. If you’ve ever even considered being in a band, let alone pursuing a career as a professional musician, you owe it to yourself to read this book.
Johnny Otis & His Orchestra – Happy New Year, Baby — BUY
Dan Wilson – What A Year For A New Year — BUY