After playing in a variety of swing orchestras, including Lloyd Hunter's Serenaders, he founded his own band in 1945 and had one of the most enduring hits of the big band era, "Harlem Nocturne". This band played with Wynonie Harris and Charles Brown. In 1947 he and Bardu Ali opened the Barrelhouse Club in the Watts district of Los Angeles. He reduced the size of his band and hired singers Mel Walker, Little Esther Phillips and the Robins (who later became the Coasters). He discovered the teenaged Phillips when she won one of the Barrelhouse Club's talent shows. With this band, which toured extensively throughout the United States as the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, he had a long string of rhythm and blues hits through 1952.
In the late 1940s he discovered Big Jay McNeely, who then performed on his Barrelhouse Stomp. In the 1950s he discovered Etta James, for whom he produced her first hit, Roll With Me, Henry, (also known as The Wallflower). Otis produced the original recording of Hound Dog written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller with vocal by Big Mama Thornton, and was given a writing credit on all six of the 1953 releases of the song. As an artist and repertory man for King Records he also discovered Jackie Wilson, Hank Ballard, and Little Willie John, among others. He also became an influential disk jockey in Los Angeles. However, he continued to perform, and in April 1957 he had a hit with his best-known recording Willie and the Hand Jive. His most famous composition is "Every Beat of My Heart", first recorded by an obscure group in the '50s but which became a huge hit for Gladys Knight.
In the 1960s he entered journalism and politics, losing a campaign for a seat in the California Assembly (one reason for the loss may be that he ran under his much less well known real name). He then became chief of staff for Democratic Congressman Mervyn M. Dymally.
He continued performing through the 1990s and headlined the San Francisco Blues Festival in 2000, although because of his many other interests he went through long periods where he did not perform.
In the 1990's he lived near Sebastopol, California and ran a coffee shop / grocery store / blues club in that hip rural city north of San Francisco.
He was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Otis had a popular radio show on KPFA, called The Johnny Otis Show. This show was aired every Saturday Morning, live from the Powerhouse Brewery in Sebastopol. Listeners were invited to stop in for breakfast and enjoy the show live. Alas, the show's frequency deteriorated along with Johnny's health. When Otis moved to Los Angeles, the show stuttered, then stopped completely and now even the Powerhouse has closed its doors. The last real show was August 19, 2006 and the last with Otis was some time before that.
Otis died on January 17, 2012 at the age of ninety.
Otis, of Greek descent, was the older brother of Nicholas Veliotes, former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and to Egypt (1984-1986). He was the father of Shuggie Otis.
Frank Zappa had cited Otis as the inspiration for his distinctive trademark facial hair, stating in an interview conducted by Simpsons creator Matt Groening and Guitar Player magazine editor Don Menn that "it looked good on Johnny Otis, so I grew it."
MA
Johnny Otis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And all the fellows knew,
She wouldn't bill and coo:
Ev'ry single night some smart fellow would try
o cuddle up to her, but she would cry:
"Ma, he's making eyes at me!
Ma he's awful nice to me!
I'm beside him, Mercy!
Let his conscience guide him!
Ma, he wants to marry me,
Be my honey bee.
Ev'ry minute he gets bolder,
Now he's leaning on my shoulder,
Ma, he's kissing me!"
Lilly was so good, ev'ry body could tell.
You'd never see her roam,
She'd always stay at home;
All the neighbors knew little Lilly too well.
For when the boys would call, They'd hear her yell:
Ma, he's making eyes at me!
Ma he's awful nice to me!
Ma he's almost breaking my heart,
If you peek in, Can't you see I'm goin' to weaken?
Ma, he wants to marry me,
Be my honey bee.
Ma, I'm meeting with resistance,
I shall holler for assistance,
Ma, he's kissing me!"
The lyrics of Johnny Otis's song "Ma" describe a young girl named Lilly who is pursued by several suitors. Despite their persistent efforts to romance her, Lilly remains hesitant to engage in any romantic displays of affection. In the chorus of the song, Lilly pleads for her mother's guidance and protection from the boys who are pursuing her. She is worried that they will break her heart and is unsure of how to handle their advances. Despite her coy nature, the boys continue to pursue her, and Lilly becomes increasingly distressed. In the end, she succumbs to their advances and is left to navigate the complexities of young love.
On a deeper level, the song speaks to the challenges of adolescence and the difficult decisions that young people must make as they navigate their emotions and relationships. Lilly is torn between her desire for romance and her fear of being hurt. She seeks guidance from her mother, who represents a stable and reliable source of support during this uncertain time. By emphasizing the importance of family and the role that parents play in shaping their children's attitudes toward relationships, the song offers a powerful message about the value of familial bonds.
Line by Line Meaning
Little Lilly was oh! So silly and shy
Lilly was a timid and innocent young woman.
And all the fellows knew, She wouldn't bill and coo:
All the men knew that she wasn't interested in flirting or being with them.
Ev'ry single night some smart fellow would try o cuddle up to her, but she would cry:
Every night, a confident man would try to get close to her, but she would reject his advances and cry out for help.
"Ma, he's making eyes at me! Ma he's awful nice to me! Ma he's almost breaking my heart, I'm beside him, Mercy! Let his conscience guide him! Ma, he wants to marry me, Be my honey bee. Ev'ry minute he gets bolder, Now he's leaning on my shoulder, Ma, he's kissing me!"
She calls out to her mother for help, as the man is being too forward and she is becoming vulnerable. She implores her mother to discourage his advances, as she fears he will end up hurting her. She mentions that he wants to marry her and is becoming more physically intimate.
Lilly was so good, ev'ry body could tell. You'd never see her roam, She'd always stay at home;
Lilly was a well-behaved and responsible girl who didn't go out much and preferred to stay at home.
All the neighbors knew little Lilly too well. For when the boys would call, They'd hear her yell:
Her neighbors were familiar with Lilly, and could hear her rejecting men who tried to approach her.
"Ma, he's making eyes at me! Ma he's awful nice to me! Ma he's almost breaking my heart, If you peek in, Can't you see I'm goin' to weaken? Ma, he wants to marry me, Be my honey bee. Ma, I'm meeting with resistance, I shall holler for assistance, Ma, he's kissing me!"
She again cries out to her mother, confessing that she is starting to feel less resistant to his advances and is worried that she will give in. She reiterates that he wants to marry her and is becoming more intimate despite her protests.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Con Conrad, Sidney Clare
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gayebrown910
This was such a bit in the 50s we'd never heard anything like it fefore! They are Gorgeous! And those Harmonies!
@trentcooper9975
This is great music 👍
@chrislovell646
I wish this song went on longer,love it
@ddoeser5830
Fijn om te horen lang geleden muziek klonk dikwijls thuis waar ik geboren ben " GEWÉLDIG "❤🇳🇱🙏🌹👋
@tim6836
first record I had still love this an people that's long gone
@wilsalk
When this song came out, in this area of Pa, the song was not played. My brother and i would tune in to the great W.K.B.W.from Buffalo NY., and sooner or later " The Hound" would play this great song, Does anyone else remember that great radio station playing all the hits of the day during that remarkable time for radio and REAL music /
@Petemonster62
Willard Henning - Was WKBW a Rhythm & Blues station?
@Dickneeds
Johnny Otis Show. One of the best all time R&R albums.
@mikepearce8209
The first album I bought. Such memories
@randyhorne1067
What is R&R ?