In addition to hosting his own television show titled "The Johnny Otis Show", he also became an influential disc-jockey in Los Angeles, hosting his own radio show on radio station KFOX in Long Beach, California in 1955.
That same year, Otis started his own label, Ultra Records (which he changed to the name Dig after five single releases). Continuing to perform and appearing on TV shows in Los Angeles from 1957. On the strength of their success, he signed to Capitol Records. Featuring singer Marie Adams, and with his band now being credited as the Johnny Otis Show, he made a comeback, at first in the British charts with "Ma He's Making Eyes At Me" in 1957. In April 1958, he recorded his best-known recording, "Willie and the Hand Jive", a clave-based vamp, which relates to hand and arm motions in time with the music, called the hand jive. This went on to be a hit in the summer of 1958, peaking at no. 9 on the U.S. Pop chart, and becoming Otis' only Top 10 single. The single reached no. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
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 The Royals in the 1952 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.[citation needed] He was also was the pastor of Landmark Community Church. In 1969 he recorded an album of sexually explicit material under the name Snatch and the Poontangs. In 1970 he played at the legendary Monterey Jazz Festival with Little Esther Phillips and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson.
In the 1990s Otis bought a farm near Sebastopol, California, north of San Francisco. For a time he ran a coffee shop / grocery store / blues club, where one of the featured singers was the Georgia-born singer Jackie Payne. Around this time Otis also founded and pastored a new church, Landmark Community Gospel Church, which held weekly rehearsals in the tiny town of Forestville, California and Sunday services in Santa Rosa, California. Landmark's worship services centered on Otis' preaching and the traditional-style performances of a gospel choir and a male gospel quartet, backed by a rocking band that featured Otis' son Nicky Otis and Nicky's son, Lucky Otis. The church closed its doors in the mid 1990s.
Otis continued performing through the 1990s and headlined the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1990 and 2000, although because of his many other interests he went through long periods where he did not perform.
Otis was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
Otis, of Greek descent, is the older brother of Nicholas Veliotes, former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan (1978-1981) and to Egypt (1984-1986). He is the father of Shuggie Otis.
Frank Zappa has 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, "Itt looked good on Johnny Otis, so I grew it."
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. Last real show was August 19, 2006. Last show with Johnny was some time before that.
Willy and the Hand Jive
The Johnny Otis Show Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
Do you walk and stroll with 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
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
Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
Said "do that hand jive one more time"
Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
They all dig that crazy beat
Way-Out Willie gave them 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 Billie got married last fall
They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to 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 Johnny Otis Show's song "Willie & the Hand Jive" is a fun and energetic tune that invites listeners to join in on the "crazy hand jive." The lyrics tell the story of Way-Out Willie and his cool little chick, Rockin' Billie, who enjoy dancing and doing the hand jive all over town. However, Willie's father disapproves of his son's activities, fearing they will "ruin" his home. Despite this, Willie continues to do the hand jive everywhere he goes, even impressing a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief with his moves.
The song's lyrics are an ode to the hand jive, a dance that was popular in the 1950s and involved a series of complex hand movements. The lyrics paint a picture of a carefree time when people would gather together to dance and have fun. The repetition of the phrase "hand jive, hand jive" throughout the song reinforces the importance of this dance and its ability to bring people together.
Overall, "Willie & the Hand Jive" is a playful and upbeat song that celebrates the joy of dancing and the power of music to unite people. Its infectious melody and catchy lyrics have made it a classic that continues to be enjoyed by audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a cat named Way-Out Willie
I am acquainted with a fellow called Way-Out Willie
He got a cool little chick named Rockin' Billie
He is in a relationship with a young lady called Rockin' Billie who is also cool
Do you walk and stroll with Susie Q
Do you dance with Susie Q in a particular way
And do that crazy hand jive too?
And do you perform the peculiar hand gestures as well?
Papa told Willie "you'll ruin my home
Willie's father warned him that he would cause problems in the family with his hand jiving
You and that hand jive has got to go"
He wanted Willie to stop the hand jive altogether
Willie said "papa, don't put me down
Willie requested his father not to criticize him for the hand jive
Been doin' that hand jive all over town"
He had been performing the hand jive everywhere
Hand jive, hand jive
The particular hand gestures performed in the dance
Hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Performing the hand jive, which is considered eccentric or strange
Mama, mama, look at uncle Joe, look at him
An exclamation calling attention to Uncle Joe's behaviour
He's doin' that hand jive with sister Flo
Uncle Joe is performing the hand jive with his sister Flo
Even gave baby sister a dime, hey, hey
He even tipped his baby sister for her participation in the dance
Said "do that hand jive one more time"
He asked them to repeat the hand jive another time
Well, a doctor and a lawyer and a indian chief
A physician, a barrister and a Native American leader
They all dig that crazy beat
All of them enjoy the unconventional rhythm and style of the beat
Way-Out Willie gave them all a treat, yeah
Willie provided them with an extraordinary experience
When he did the hand jive with his feet
He performed the hand jive using his feet as well
Come on, sugar, yeah!
An exhortation to a person to continue the dance moves with enthusiasm
Well, Willie and Billie got married last fall
Willie and Billie were wedded in the autumn of the previous year
They had a little Willie Junior and that ain't all
They welcomed Willie Junior, their offspring, and that is not the end of the story
You know that baby got greatness and it's plain to see, hey, hey
Willie Junior is undoubtedly gifted, and it's obvious
Doin' that hand jive on T.V., come on
Willie Junior performed a hand jive dance that was televised
Hand jive, hand jive
The distinctive hand gestures of the dance
(Why don't you) hand jive, doin' that crazy hand jive
Performing the unconventional hand jive dance, with no apparent reason not to do it
Hey, hey, well
An exclamation of approval or excitement
Yeah, yeah
An exclamation of agreement or enthusiasm
Lyrics ยฉ OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@23tbob
I was 16 when this came out, and it was the first rock 'n roll song that "blew me away". And it's still in the TOP 5 of my all time favorite songs, and I'll be 80 in July 2022.
@johntittensor6488
Yo 23tBob! Same timing, I was 15 in Australia, found myself doing the song with cover bands in France decades later. Happy Birthday! John T
@23tbob
@John Tittensor Thanks for the birthday wishes (Friday the 22nd). Hard to believe I'll be 80, and my health is still pretty good. I'm watching the British Open right now -- I follow the Norwegian "kid" Viktor Hovland (he's 24). He's ranked about 8th or 9th in the world golf rankings.
@chrisb5278
Hey there! I'm of almost the same birthday but in 88. I love this music! Happy to read that you're in good health! ๐๐
@r0ckstar666
When I heard bad brains fearless vampire killers in 1984 that blew me away
@harleypointer5984
Keep rocking kings!
@pennycarroll9006
Oh we all used to do this at the dances we had way back then. It sure was fun. I heard this on radio today and started singing it while I was driving. Remembered the words too! I am a young 77! Music is my secret!!!
@andrewkappler5503
Tommy Williams came to Shawshank in 1965 on a two-year stretch for B&E. That's breaking & entering to you. Cops caught him sneaking TV sets out the back door of a JC Penney. Young punk. Mr. Rock and Roll. Cocky as hell. We liked him immediately.
@Yevkasem1417
:) Perfect
@mr.pastor5681
โCome on Old Boys!!!โ