R.I.P. 2012

The Great R&B Impresario, Johnny Otis

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/johnny-otis-who-recorded-1960s-hi...

and the one and only Etta James

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-etta-james-20120121,0,1608543.story

Otis always struck me as one of those fascinating, larger-than-life figures, though what I know of him really is more in the realm of anecdote. I sincerely hope much of it is true. Supposedly his church really rocked.

Guys like this make things happen.

I first heard of Johnny Otis as the father of Shuggie Otis, and I always assumed Shug was black. Then I read in the obituary that Johnny was Greek. Wow
And, I only just heard this past week that Hubert Sumlin died in December. Another guy who can’t be replaced.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGIE28q3fEA

I think Shuggie learned a bit from Hubert
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9I0hDcjJizs

I'll admit that I wasn't even aware that Johnny was still alive. His longevity was astonishing. The first recordings on my album of "The Original Johnny Otis Show" date from 1945 - "Harlem Nocturne". It's followed by a couple of numbers with vocals by Jimmy Rushing.

Johnny Otis produced Etta James' first hit, Roll With Me, Henry.

Another true Impresario. Soul Train, Saturday Mornings, 1970's - Don was the man:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/showbiz/celebrity-news-gossip/don-cornelius-impact...