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."
Willie And The Hand Jive
Johnny Otis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Millie
He can walk and stroll and Susie Q
And do that crazy hand jive too
Papa told Willie, "You'll ruin my home"
"You and that hand jive has got to go"
Willie said, "Papa, don't put me down""They're doin' that hand jive all over town"
Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Mama, mama, look at Uncle Joe, look at him
He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
Grandma gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
Said, "Do that hand jive one more time"
Well, a doctor and a lawyer and an Indian chief
They all dig that crazy beat
Way-out Willie gave 'em all a treat, yeah
When he did the hand jive with his feet
Hand jive, hand jive
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive, hey, hey
Come on, sugar
Yeah
Well, Willie and Millie got married last fall
They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
You know the baby got famous in his crib, you see, hey, hey
Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on
Hand jive, hand jive (why don't you?)hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Hey, hey, well
Yeah, yeah
The lyrics to Johnny Otisβs song βWillie and the Hand Jiveβ is a catchy tune about a man named Way-Out Willie and his love for the hand jive. The chorus of the song is dedicated to the hand jive, a dance move that was popular in the 1950s. The lyrics of the song talk about Willieβs obsession with the hand jive, which seems to create problems with his family. Willieβs father doesnβt approve of the dance move and warns him to stay away from it. However, Willie insists on doing the hand jive and ends up causing arguments with his family.
The song also talks about how famous and well-loved the hand jive is, with a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief all enjoying the dance move. The lyrics suggest that even babies love the hand jive and will dance along to it. The song ends with Willie and his wife, Billie, having a baby named Willie Junior, who has inherited his father's love for the hand jive and even appears on TV to show off his moves.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the hand jive, a dance that captivated the 1950s music scene and continues to be celebrated today. It tells a story of a man who is passionate about his love for dance and shows how this love can bring people together.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a cat named Way-Out Willie
I am aware of a cool guy with crazy skills named Way-Out Willie
He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
He has a very attractive lady to be with named Rockin' Billie
Do you walk and stroll with Susie Q
Do you like to enjoy and dance along to Susie Q's music
And do that crazy hand jive too?
And then showoff your amazing hand jive skills
Papa told Willie "you'll ruin my home
Willie's Dad warned him that his crazy hand jive is ruining the home environment
You and that hand jive has got to go"
He insisted Willie that he needs to stop the hand jive trend.
Willie said "papa, don't put me down
Willie tried to persuade his father that he shouldn't discourage him
Been doin' that hand jive all over town"
He tried to prove how popular the hand jive trend is in the town and how it's drawing people together
Hand jive, hand jive
It's all about the hand jive we all love
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
It's all about that cool hand jive everybody wants to do
Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe, look at him
Mama, mama, look over there at uncle Joe showing off his hand jive skill
He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
He's having fun showing off his moves with his sister Flo
Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
He was so happy after showing off his skills that he even gave his baby sister a dime
Said "do that hand jive one more time"
He loved it so much, he wants her sister to do it one more time
Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
Even people from all profession, like doctors, lawyers and indian chiefs loves hand jive dance
They all dig that crazy beat
They are all crazy about this hand jive and loves the music
Way-Out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
Way-Out Willie gave everyone present there a special treat of crazy hand jive dance
When he did the hand jive with his feet
He did something rare and unique by performing hand jive with his feet and amazed everyone there
Come on, sugar, yeah!
Let's do it together, sugar! Come on
Well, Willie and Billie got married last fall
Last fall, Willie and Billie tied the knot and wedded finally
They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
They were blessed with a little baby boy named Willie Junior and it wasn't the end of their story
You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to see, hey, hey
It's clear and evident that the baby born is going to be great and special
Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on
They are going to show their amazing hand jive skills on the television and invite everyone to join them
Hand jive, hand jive
It's time for the famous hand jive
(Why don't you) hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Why don't you join us for this amazing hand jive dance and showoff your cool moves with us
Hey, hey, well
This is really exciting!
Yeah, yeah
We are all very excited, yeah yeah!
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny Otis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paganpoet3
Otis was born in Vallejo, California, to Greek immigrant parents,
Alexander J. Veliotes, a Mare Island longshoreman and grocery store
owner, and his wife, the former Irene Kiskakes, a painter.[1][4] He had a
younger sister, Dorothy, and a younger brother, Nicholas A. Veliotes,
who became the U.S. Ambassador to Jordan (1978β1981) and Egypt
(1984β1986). Johnny grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in
Berkeley, California,
where his father owned a neighborhood grocery store. He became known
for his choice to live his professional and personal life as a member of
the African-American community.[5][6][7] He wrote, "As a kid I decided
that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would
be black."[8]
At 20, despite the deep and enduring objections of his mother, he
married Phyllis Walker, a woman of black and Filipino descent who he had
known since childhood.[9] They had four children: Shuggie Otis and
Nicholas Otis, both of whom became musicians, and two daughters, Janice
and Laura.[10]
@donlarge282
I loved this song as a teenager in 1958, and 65 years later I still love it.
@mattasticmattattack8546
No offense intended, but I didn't know people your age were on YouTube, your automatically one of the best people here πβ€οΈ
@jacobblumin4260
I just listened to recordings of this song by four other bands and none are as good as this original. Don't know what happened to Johnny Otis but he wrote a song that is immortal. I'm 75 years old and this song rings in my head from sixty years ago. Maaaaaaaaahvelous!
@7c8f9x
I AM 77 YRS OLD, DROVE A 58 CHEVY BEL AIR, LISTENED TO JOHNNY SINGING THIS SONG ON MY AM RADIO WITH VIBRASONIC MAKING IT SOUND LIKE IN A SOUND CHAMBER, COOLEST THING U EVER HEARD, THE CHEVY HAD A 283 WITH GLASSPACKS, SOUNDED GREAT ALSO, THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND!
@bid84
Better than today thatβs for sure, cars where outrageous in the American 50βs.
@jmsjms296
@@bid84 A real threat for sure
@glenw-xm5zf
283 was 230 hp that year. Awesome engine. One great car, unlike today's plastic crap
@ssurfcity
Been hearing this song all my life, 57 years. Wanting to hear the song, brought me here.
@user-hz5yb4bh5v
Bin.
@mooneysilvia
Me too. I was gardening and picked up a garden slug and immediately thought of this song