Johnny Otis and Etta James
The music world lost two of the greats of rhythm and blues in January 2012 - Johnny Otis and Etta James. Crossroads has been featuring music from both artists and offers some additional information here.
Johnny Otis wrote several books, including a look at the Los Angeles music scene, Upside Your Head!: Rhythm and Blues on Central Avenue; Listen to the Lambs, his response to the Watts riots; and even a cookbook, Red Beans & Rice and Other Rock ‘N’ Roll Recipes. George Lipsitz (who occasionally sounds like the professor – of black studies and sociology – that he is) wrote an intriguing biography of Otis, Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story.
Etta James wrote an autobiography (with David Ritz, who coauthored bios with Jerry Wexler, the Neville Brothers, and B.B. King and wrote bios of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha and others) called Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story.
And last year, Charles Farley published the first biography of Bobby “Blue” Bland, called Soul of the Man.
Want to know more? See the Blues books and references on the right side of the page for more resources with information about all of our featured artists.
Johnny Otis from his television show doing his big hit, Willie and the Hand Jive:
Etta James, B.B. King, Gladys Knight, and Chaka Khan singing “Precious Lord”:
Elmore James doing his classic “Dust My Broom”:
Bobby Blue Bland from a 1975 Memphis concert with B.B. King:
