Who Says White Men Don't Have Rhythm?

One of the most amazing things about Greeks, is that they show up in the unlikeliest of places, like the Rhythm & Blues, and the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame. Johnny Otis or Ioannis Veliotes was born to Greek parents and grew up in a predominately Black neighborhood in Berkley California where his father owned a grocery store. He was the most prominent white man in Black R& B. Otis is an accomplished pianist, disk jockey, vibraphonist, drummer, songwriter, composer, singer, band leader, nightclub owner, politician, journalist, impresario, painter & sculptor and in his spare time he has written a few books. During the Big Band era his band produced one of the era's most enduring hits, called "Harlem Nocturne." He later opened a nightclub in Los Angeles and discovered numerous talents including Mel Walker, Little Esther, Willie Mae "Big Momma" Thornton, Sugar Pie DeSanto, The Mid-nighters, The Coasters, Big Jay McNeely, Etta James, Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard and Little Willie John. Otis wrote "Every Beat of My Heart" which Gladys Knight & the Pips turned into a classic hit and "Willie and Hand Jive" which sold 1.5 million copies as well many, many other hits.

This from www.history-of-rock.com : "His stage shows were something else. They would open with him doing a solo on the drums and vibes that would last ten minutes before the rest of the band would come on stage. There were always a female vocalists that could really sing out the blues. They would then be followed by a male vocalist who was smooth with the ballads. The show climaxed with a vocal group followed by a number or two by the Otis band with Otis frantically switching back and forth from the drums and vibes. All the while his dark Greek complexion led most in the audience to believe he was black."

In the 1960's he ran for a seat on the California State Assembly but lost, some say, because he used his real name. Johnny later served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Mervin Dymally, whose career he followed from the State Assembly, State Senate, Lieutenant Governorship of California, to the U.S. Congress. His first book "Listen To The Lambs", which addressed the 1965 race riots was published in 1968. His next book, "Upside Your Head! Rhythm & Blues on Central Avenue" was published in 1993. Many of his paintings, sculptures, and wood carvings are displayed in "Colors and Chords - The Art of Johnny Otis" which was published in 1995. His most recent book, "Johnny Otis - Red Beans & Rice and Other Rock n Roll Recipes" was published in 1997. His son, Shuggie Otis, a talented musician and recording artist in his own right was offered a position in the Rolling Stones Band as a guitarist, which he turned down. Johnny has remained active in his recording studio and has put out 6 CD's on his label since the mid-nineties.

Few people have given as much to Rhythm & Blues music as Johnny Otis. Although some of his work was familiar to me, I had no idea that Otis was a Greek-American, until recently. Bravo re Yannaki. You make me proud and who says white men ain't got rhythm?

    Technorati : Johnny Otis, Rhythm & Blues Music, Rock n Roll Music, Shuggie Otis

Comments

[demonax]

Fascinating stuff, Stavros. Here’s a bit more on Johnny’s son, Shuggie Otis – or John Veliotes Jr. – who I spent the afternoon looking into. Shuggie is a hugely talented musician, playing – most notably in the 1970s – jazz funk and blues, something of a cult figure who for some reason fell by the wayside. One admirer says: ‘Shuggie Otis should have been a West Coast superstar, a genius, a musical wizard of the highest order.’
His most famous song is Strawberry Letter 23 which, in the version by the Brothers Johnson, was prominently used by Quentin Tarantino in Jackie Brown. It is a beautiful song, and Shuggie’s version is more beautiful than the Brothers Johnson version. I managed to download 10-12 Shuggie songs and, even though it’s not the sort of music I normally listen to, the talent, quality, artistry and sensitivity of the man is obvious. His music is sensual and erotic. It’s the sort of music Hermo should put on when he has a lady round to his pad, just in case reading Marcus Aurelius to her doesn’t do the trick.

A Shuggie link to go with the one you gave:
http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/shuggie.htm

There’s plenty on Shuggie on the net.

[Stavros]

Thanks for the link. Amazing guys, both father and son. You have motivated me to get my son to download some of his stuff. Won't he be surprised? I await your Cassavetes post.
PS What did you think of the Tikas and Dilboy posts?

[demonax]

Greeks always do extraordinary things, surpass themselves and their circumstances. It’s in our DNA. We’re revolutionaries. Dilboy and Tikas are in this mould.
Last night, while I was surfing, I came across this story on Dilboy
http://www2.townonline.com/somerville/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=581338

I’m not that familiar with US medals of valour, but did notice when I went to the Arlington cemetery website
http://www.homeofheroes.com/gravesites/arlington/dilboy_george.html
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/gdilboy.htm
that Congressional Medal of Honor recipients form a pretty exclusive club.

As for Tikas, love of justice is also in a Greek’s DNA; a willingness to sacrifice everything for what we regard as just constitutes a large part of our personal philotimo.

I’ve a novel lying round the house by Harry Mark Petrakis, called Days of Vengeance, which I’ve not read, but I think is about Cretan miners in Western America and may well deal with the period and events you talk about in your post. I don’t know.

Also, Stavros, I’ve been continuing to listen to the Shuggie Otis stuff I downloaded earlier and this guy is seriously, seriously good, a wonderful discovery. Shuggie also features on a terrific Mos Def track called Blue Black Jack. Mention this to your son and I bet you’ll go up in his estimation no end.

[Stavros]

The Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients form a VERY exclusive club, similar to holders of the VC (Victoria Cross). I've seen General's salute Sargeants wearing the little blue ribbon. Most are given posthumously. Only two awarded since Vietnam. As far as I'm concerned Sgt Hercules Korgis who I wrote about in a post called "An Army of One" deserved a MOH. Another Greek-American, Sgt Chris Carr (Caraberis) won the MOH fighting in Italy during World War II. Read his citation:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_1940_wwii/carr.html
I haven't read Petrakis since I was a teenager although I recommend him highly as a Greek American author. Days of Vengeance looks very interesting. I will order it and add it to my pile of books to read (including one of his on the Greek War of Independence which I've linked to) Currently reading Sailing Byzantium by Colin Wells. Good read.
Speaking of the Greek sense of justice, you need to read about the uprising among the Cretan miners against a Greek strongman known as Leonidas Skliris in Utah, which is the location for the Petrakis novel (it may provide a sense of perspective. Read this article:
http://historytogo.utah.gov/people/ethnic_cultures/thefallofskliris.html

I'm listening to Greek radio while I write this, my older son, a HS senior is quite an accomplished musician and singer. He loves all kinds of music including Greek. He's at work right now. Maybe he will be suitably impressed by me throwing Shuggie's name around like I know the guy. Sometimes the old man surprises him, sometimes he just rolls his eyes.