Johnny Otis: Administrative Assistant

Jerry Leiber And Mike Stoller Dept: Otis, who died last Tuesday at 90, was a bandleader, an administrative assistant to the lieutenant governor, a minister with his own church, a disc jockey, a college professor, a painter and sculptor, an author, a celebrated chef. He died in the Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, where he moved from Sonoma County several years ago after becoming bed-ridden. He is survived by one of the world s most loyal wives, Phyllis, whom he married in 1941, according to The Chronicle Herald. His contributions were enormous. He discovered Little Richard and songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. He produced their song, Hound Dog, with Big Mama Thornton when Elvis Presley was still at Humes High. He met 14-year-old Etta James backstage at a concert at the long-gone Primalon Ballroom on Fillmore Street and, that very night, whisked her to Los Angeles to make her first record the following day. Sadly, his former protege died Friday in Riverside at 73 and if rhythm and blues ever had a renaissance man, his name was Johnny Otis. His life was also a profound journey through racist America. Otis, who was white, virtually chose to live his life as a black man. Otis revelled in black culture. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.