Tag: Johnny Otis

  • Johnny Otis Felt He Had Been ‘Saved’ by the Political, Spiritual, and Moral Force of African-American Culture

  • The blurring of racial lines won’t save America. Why ‘racial fluidity’ is a con

  • Sugar Pie DeSanto: After 50 Years, ‘Go Going’ Strong Fresh Air from WHYY [Philadelphia] National Public Radio 2010-07-29 Terry Gross, Host Ed Ward, Rock Music Commentator Ace Records Sugar Pie DeSanto was born in Brooklyn in October 1935, and was christened Umpeleya Marsema Balinton. Her father was Filipino, her mother African-American. Her mother had been…

  • Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story University of Minnesota Press 2010 272 pages 23 b&w plates, 6 x 9 cloth ISBN: 978-0-8166-6678-2 George Lipsitz, Professor of Black Studies and Sociology University of California, Santa Barbara Considered by many to be the godfather of R&B, Johnny Otis—musician, producer, artist, entrepreneur, pastor, disc jockey, writer,…

  • The L.A. Scene: Teaching Race and Popular Music in the 1950s Organization of American Historians Magazine of History Volume 26, Issue 4 pages 17-20 DOI: 10.1093/oahmag/oas030 Luis Alvarez, Associate Professor of History University of California, San Diego In 1956, Little Julian Herrera had one of the biggest rhythm and blues hits of the year in…

  • Johnny Otis, ‘Godfather of Rhythm and Blues,’ Dies at 90 New York Times 2012-01-19 Ihsan Taylor Johnny Otis, the musician, bandleader, songwriter, impresario, disc jockey and talent scout often called “the godfather of rhythm and blues,” died on Tuesday at his home in Altadena, Calif. He was 90. His death was confirmed by his manager,…