Comments on: Blues Bytes – A Farewell To Etta James and Johnny Otis 1.27.12 http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/ The World's Blues Magazine Mon, 14 May 2012 02:21:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: revbilly http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-59394 revbilly Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:47:25 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-59394 Doggone! Thanks Todd, keep up the great playing. Hope you're doing well. Watch out, I'm gonna be reviewing Guitar Slim in an upcoming article. Much Love Brother: B Daddy Doggone! Thanks Todd, keep up the great playing. Hope you’re doing well. Watch out, I’m gonna be reviewing Guitar Slim in an
upcoming article.
Much Love Brother:
B Daddy

]]> By: Joe Yag http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-58092 Joe Yag Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:46:02 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-58092 Etta played a few weekends in Delaware back when.Nice to see Luncefords name come up. He's one of my faves thanks to a set of cassettes from the Smithsonian my Dad gave me in my teens,might explain my Musical tastes now ! Thanks Billy Etta played a few weekends in Delaware back when.Nice to see Luncefords name come up. He’s one of my faves thanks to a set of cassettes from the Smithsonian my Dad gave me in my teens,might explain my Musical tastes now ! Thanks Billy

]]> By: revbilly http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-58020 revbilly Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:46:55 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-58020 I am familiar with Grant, Dick Dale, and of course, the infamous Mr. Cooley. I would love to do a piece on him, but it would require some serious edits!! Would love any link to Hall Johnson, not familiar, and would love to hear anything you got. Man, that S. Cal music scene is a book unto itself (HMMMMM). You had Otis and all those guys, and then the Western Swing players who HATED being lumped in with the Nashville crowd, and rightfully so, IMO. Hey, maybe I'll do one on Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, I'm sure you're hip to them? Thanks, damn I love this, I can sit and talk music all day. Thank you so much. I am familiar with Grant, Dick Dale, and of course, the infamous Mr. Cooley. I would love to do a piece on him, but it would require some serious edits!!
Would love any link to Hall Johnson, not familiar, and would love to hear anything you got.
Man, that S. Cal music scene is a book unto itself (HMMMMM).
You had Otis and all those guys, and then the Western Swing players who HATED being lumped in with the Nashville crowd, and rightfully so, IMO. Hey, maybe I’ll do one on Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant, I’m sure you’re hip to them?
Thanks, damn I love this, I can sit and talk music all day. Thank you so much.

]]> By: revbilly http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-58013 revbilly Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:32:45 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-58013 Kathleen!! OMG- You're the reason I met Johnnie Otis!! The mand who introduced himself as his road manager, started off by saying he was a good friend of yours. Indeed, I feel really blessed that I can remember riding around the beltway with "Tell Mama," BLASTING out the speaker of my '64 Dodge with the push button gears. BTW-To the readers out there, this woman was one of my first and best managers. One of the few 100% honest and stand-up agent/managers in this business. Thanks for staying in touch, you're a real class act! Love Ya Always-B Kathleen!!
OMG- You’re the reason I met Johnnie Otis!!
The mand who introduced himself as his road manager, started off by saying he was a good friend of yours. Indeed, I feel really blessed that I can remember riding around the beltway with “Tell Mama,” BLASTING out the speaker of my ’64 Dodge with the push button gears.
BTW-To the readers out there, this woman was one of my first and best managers. One of the few 100% honest and stand-up agent/managers in this business. Thanks for staying in touch, you’re a real class act!
Love Ya Always-B

]]> By: revbilly http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-58009 revbilly Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:25:23 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-58009 Actually, "Harlem Nocturne," was written by Earle Hage, However, Otis did one of my two favorite versions. The other being the Rock "N" Roll version by the Viscounts. did you ever see the movie "Christine?" I was in a downtown theatre In Baltimore with my cousin when I saw it. There's this great scene where these jerks have destroyed the car. It's almost unbearable to watch. Then the owner slips in, the smoke rises, and he says 'O.K. girl, show them what you can do..." As the car begins to rebuild itself, Harlem Nocturne fades up. I let out a really loud "OH YEAH!!" in the movie theatre, and then apologized as the people around me were chuckling.. I love Otis' version every bit as much. Thanks for the really cool memory!! Actually, “Harlem Nocturne,” was written by Earle Hage, However, Otis did one of my two favorite versions. The other being the Rock “N” Roll version by the Viscounts. did you ever see the movie “Christine?” I was in a downtown theatre In Baltimore with my cousin when I saw it. There’s this great scene where these jerks have destroyed the car. It’s almost unbearable to watch. Then the owner slips in, the smoke rises, and he says ‘O.K. girl, show them what you can do…” As the car begins to rebuild itself, Harlem Nocturne fades up. I let out a really loud “OH YEAH!!” in the movie theatre, and then apologized as the people around me were chuckling..
I love Otis’ version every bit as much. Thanks for the really cool memory!!

]]> By: Todd Sharpville http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-57578 Todd Sharpville Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:35:32 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-57578 A beautifully written piece Billy. A beautifully written piece Billy.

]]> By: Bob Porter http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-57476 Bob Porter Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:38:57 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-57476 Like you, Billy, Johnny Otis was an ordained minister of the Gospel. He had his own church for a long time. He was certainly as versatile a music man that you could find anywhere. Regarding Etta James, "a little bit of a challenge to work with" doesn't begin to tell the story. I think to a great degree we were fortunate to get as much great music from her that we did. Regarding the cover photo of Etta James Rocks The House, I saw her in person about six weeks prior to that record being recorded. She was working in LA with a 5 piece band including Plas Johnson and Clifford Scott. I wish they had recorded her with THAT band. Like you, Billy, Johnny Otis was an ordained minister of the Gospel. He had his own church for a long time. He was certainly as versatile a music man that you could find anywhere.

Regarding Etta James, “a little bit of a challenge to work with” doesn’t begin to tell the story. I think to a great degree we were fortunate to get as much great music from her that we did.

Regarding the cover photo of Etta James Rocks The House, I saw her in person about six weeks prior to that record being recorded. She was working in LA with a 5 piece band including Plas Johnson and Clifford Scott. I wish they had recorded her with THAT band.

]]> By: Jonah Rivers http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-57064 Jonah Rivers Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:51:23 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-57064 Billy you failed to mention a song Johnny wrote that I fell in love with while working a horn in the Jr. high School Band. Harlem Nocturne is such a great evergreen tune that unfortunatly most of todays kid's will never hear. It's still apart of my listening list. I met as a 13 year old rocker with a local So Cal band with a local hit both Johnny and the forever great Etta alone with many others in 1958. What a great experence for a hopeful youngman to be able to sit in on keyboards with already greats like Johnny, Etta, and Sam Guy of the Coasters. Billy you failed to mention a song Johnny wrote that I fell in love with while working a horn in the Jr. high School Band. Harlem Nocturne is such a great evergreen tune that unfortunatly most of todays kid’s will never hear. It’s still apart of my listening list.
I met as a 13 year old rocker with a local So Cal band with a local hit both Johnny and the forever great Etta alone with many others in 1958. What a great experence for a hopeful youngman to be able to sit in on keyboards with already greats like Johnny, Etta, and Sam Guy of the Coasters.

]]> By: Bob Provick http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-55799 Bob Provick Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:23:50 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-55799 Thanks Rev. I've learned a lot about Johnny Otis since his passing and regret not having had the opportunity to see him. Re Etta thanks for a personal, from the heart look at a great if troubled life. In our 18 years of the (was Cisco) now RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Ms. Peaches only graced our stage once and it was truly mesmerizing. One of the best, all-time. As a colleague would say...it's all about the music...happy trails...bp Thanks Rev. I’ve learned a lot about Johnny Otis since his passing and regret not having had the opportunity to see him. Re Etta thanks for a personal, from the heart look at a great if troubled life. In our 18 years of the (was Cisco) now RBC Ottawa Bluesfest Ms. Peaches only graced our stage once and it was truly mesmerizing. One of the best, all-time.

As a colleague would say…it’s all about the music…happy trails…bp

]]> By: Loretta Paone http://bluesrevue.com/2012/01/blues-bytes-a-farewell-to-etta-james-and-johnny-otis-1-27-12/#comment-55783 Loretta Paone Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:23:12 +0000 http://bluesrevue.com/?p=13912#comment-55783 What words can be said to describe how these two phenominal people will be missed, and their work and accomplishments to me hopefully will go on and be appreciated for all time. My sincerest sympathies to both of the families of Etta James and Johnny Otis. What words can be said to describe how these two phenominal people will be missed, and their work and accomplishments to me hopefully will go on and be appreciated for all time. My sincerest sympathies to both of the families of Etta James and Johnny Otis.

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