Results for "Johnny Otis"

Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis - drums, piano, bandleader, producer, composer, R&B Legend! Johnny Otis was born December 28, 1921 in Vallejo, California. He grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in Berkeley, California, where his father owned and operated a neighborhood grocery store. He began his musical career in 1939 as a drummer with Count Otis Matthew's West Oakland House Rockers. In 1943, at the recommendation of Nat "King" Cole and Jimmy Witherspoon, he moved to Los Angeles to join Harlan Leonard's Kansas City Rockets at the Club Alabam. By 1945 he was leading his own band, and had his first big hit that year with "Harlem Nocturne"

Pamela Rose: Tribute To Etta James at The California Jazz Conservatory

By WALTER ATKINS

Pamela Rose Tribute To Etta James California Jazz Conservatory Berkeley CA February 6, 2015 Pamela Rose's tribute to Etta James was a stirring live concert/talk/multimedia celebration of the life and career of the legendary soul, R&B, rock, gospel, and jazz artist. The set was interspersed with discussions of James' ...

Catherine Russell: Bring It Back

By C. MICHAEL BAILEY

New York City vocalist Catherine Russell is the brilliant eutection of two bright tones. Her father, the late Luis Russell, collaborated with Louis Armstrong as his bandleader and arranger. Russell's mother was the inestimable Carline Ray who concluded her seven decade career with her debut as a leader Vocal Sides (Self Produced, 2013) before passing away ...

Poncho Sanchez: Mambo King

By STEVE BRYANT

For over 30 years, conguero/bandleader Poncho Sanchez has been the premier proponent of West Coast Latin Jazz. Growing up in Norwalk, California, Sanchez was exposed to and influenced by two very different styles of music: Afro-Cuban music and bebop, as well as R&B. Originally a guitarist, Sanchez taught himself the flute, drums, and timbales before finally ...

Inspiration Information / Wings of Love

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Singer, songwriter and multi- instrumentalist Shuggie Otis might not have been born holding a guitar but he probably picked his first one up soon thereafter. He did grow up playing guitar in bands led by his dad Johnny Otis, who introduced such artists as Charles Brown and Esther Phillips to R&B and soul audiences. He debuted ...

Fusion Groovin’

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Analog Players Society Hurricane Season in Brooklyn Studio Brooklyn 2012 Hurricane Season in Brooklyn marks the debut of the Analog Players Society (APS), an extension of the lifelong pursuit of the groove by the percussionist, engineer and producer known as Amon, who first discovered Turkish, West African and Middle Eastern music ...

Johnny Otis, il "padrino" del Rhythm&Blues

By AAJ ITALY STAFF

Ricorderemo certo il 2012 come un anno piuttosto nefasto per, tra le tante cose, la grande quantità di musicisti che sono morti nel corso dei dodici mesi, da Whitney Houston a David S. Ware, da Donna Summer a Dave Brubeck, passando per Etta James, Adam Yauch, Fontella Bass, Levon Helm, John Tchicai e decine di altri. ...

Talkin' Blues with the Groovemaster, Jerry Jemmott

By ALAN BRYSON

Jerry Jemmott's groove is the bedrock of guitarist B.B. King's career defining hit, “The Thrill is Gone." He was in the studio with Duane Allman and singer Wilson Pickett recording “Hey Jude," a track that was instrumental in launching the late Allman Brothers Band guitarist's musical career; and they were together again for flautist Herbie Mann's ...

Sean Noonan, Richard Bona & Sugar Pie DeSanto

By MARTIN LONGLEY

Sean Noonan & Pavees Dance The Douglass Street Music Collective December 15, 2011 It might seem as though drummer/composer Sean Noonan was enjoying a quiet year in 2011, playing fewer gigs than usual. The reality is that he's been busy scribing new works, in preparation for a twin album ...