Shuggie Otis
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| Shuggie Otis | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Johnny Alexander Veliotes |
| Born | November 30, 1953 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genre(s) | R&B, rock, blues, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, record producer, musician |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, piano, organ, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Label(s) | CBS, Epic, Luaka Bop |
| Associated acts | Johnny Otis, The Brothers Johnson |
Shuggie Otis (born November 30, 1953) is an American R&B, rock, blues, and funk singer, songwriter, record producer and multi-instrumentalist. His composition "Strawberry Letter 23", covered by The Brothers Johnson, reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and No. 5 on the pop chart in 1977. His 1975 single "Inspiration Information" went to No. 56 on the R&B chart.
Otis is the son of rhythm and blues musician, bandleader, and impresario Johnny Otis. He was born Johnny Alexander Veliotes in Los Angeles, California. Otis began performing professionally at the age of 12, often disguising himself with dark glasses and a false moustache so that he could play in nightclubs.
Otis is a guitarist who also plays piano, organ, drums and bass. He released his first solo album in 1970. The Brothers Johnson's version of his composition "Strawberry Letter 23" reached #1 in the Billboard rhythm and blues chart and #5 in the Billboard pop chart in 1977. He has recorded with Frank Zappa (electric bass on "Peaches en Regalia" from Hot Rats), Al Kooper, Cal Tjader, Etta James, and Eddie Vinson, and more recently Mos Def. David Byrne recently re-released Inspiration Information, including some bonus tracks from "Freedom Flight", on his Luaka Bop record label. It the liner notes, the critic James Sullivan states that Shuggie was offered guitar duties in the Rolling Stones but declined.[1]
Otis' style melds blues, jazz, funk and pop.[citation needed] He continues to record sporadically. Shuggie resides in the Northern Californian village of Sebastopol.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis (1969), CBS
- Here Comes Shuggie Otis (1970), Epic - CBS 63996
- Freedom Flight (1971), Epic - LP
- Inspiration Information (1974). Epic - LP
[edit] Compilations
- Shuggie's Boogie: Shuggie Otis Plays The Blues (1994), Epic/Legacy - CD
- In Session: Great Rhythm & Blues (2002), Golden lane - CD
[edit] Miscellaneous
- The Digable Planets sampled Shuggie Otis's "Island Letter" on his "Inspiration Information" for the song "For Corners" on their second album "Blowout Comb" (1994).[citation needed]
- Shuggie Otis's “Aht Uh Mi Hed” was sampled by German rappers Absolute Beginner in “Liebeslied” and by Black Eyed Peas in “Joints & Jams”.
- Shuggie Otis played guitar on his father's pseudonymous 1969 album Snatch and the Poontangs.
- Shuggie Played Bass on Frank Zappa's song "Peaches En Regalia", from his "Hot Rats" Album
