中文名：約翰尼奧蒂斯 外文名：Johnny Otis 原名：Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes 国籍：美国 出生地：加利福尼亚州瓦列霍 生日：1921年12月28日 简介：Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes (December 28, 1921 – January 17, 2012), better known as Johnny Otis, was an American singer, musician, composer, and record producer. Born in Vallejo, California, he is commonly referred to as the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues". 从艺历程：JohnnyOtis modeled an amazing number of contrasting musical hatsover a career spanning more than half a century.Bandleader, recordproducer, talent scout, label owner, nightclub impresario, disc jockeyTVvariety show host, author, R&B pioneer, rock &roll star --Otisanswered to all those descriptions and quite a few more. Not bad for aGreek-American who loved jazz and R&B so ferventlythat he adoptedthe African-American culture as his own. California-born John Veliotes changed his name to the Blacker-sounding Otis when he was in his teens. Drums were his first passion -he spent time behind the traps with the Oakland-based orchestra ofCount Otis Matthews and kept time for various Midwestern swingoutfits before settling in Los Angeles during the mid-'40s and joiningHarlan Leonard's Rockets, then resident at The Club Alabam. It wasn't long before The Alabam's owner entreated Otis to assemblehis own orchestra for house-band duties. The group's 1945 debut sidesfor Excelsior were solidlyin the big-band jazz vein and included anarrangement of the moody"Harlem Nocturne" that sold well. ShouterJimmy Rushing fronted the band for two tracks at the same date. Otisrep as a drummer was growing; he backed both Wynonie Harris andCharles Brown (with Johnny Moore's Three Blazers) that same year. The Otis outfit continued to record for Excelsior through 1947(onedate featured Big Jay McNeelyon sax), but his influence on L.A's R&Bscene soared exponentially when he and partner Bardu Ali opened TheBarrelhouse Club in Watts. R&B replaced jazz in Otis' heart; he paredthe big-band down and discovered young talent such as the Robinsvocalists Mel Walker and Little Esther Phillips, and guitarist Pete Lewisthat would serve him well in years to come.