johnny otis

[crazygrandpa]

Johnny Otis ('95 Apple Blossom Parade grand marshal) passed on to
great cosmic hand jive this past Tuesday. Might be kinda cool for one
of the local music venues (or ?) to honor Johnny.

[tezor]

Thank you for letting us know of his passing, I enjoyed his company on many occasions, as well as that of his sons, my heart goes out to his family, he will be missed. Peace to all who hold you dear, Jive on Johnny.

Johnny Otis ('95 Apple Blossom Parade grand marshal) passed on to
great cosmic hand jive this past Tuesday. Might be kinda cool for one
of the local music venues (or ?) to honor Johnny.

[Barry]

Thank you for letting us know of his passing, I enjoyed his company on many occasions, as well as that of his sons, my heart goes out to his family, he will be missed. Peace to all who hold you dear, Jive on Johnny.

Jive On, Indeed!

Anybody care to share memories of Johnny's stay in Sebastopol in the 90s?

[Dixon]

R.I.P. Johnny Otis, a great music-maker and bridger of racial divides.

[Gratongirl]

R.I.P. Johnny Otis, a great music-maker and bridger of racial divides.

The Johnny Otis Market and weekly Thursday (Tuesday?) night jam sessions...HEAVEN...and a huge gift to the community.

Johnny had incredible energy, talent, and a way of bringing people together...who would have thought you could sit and listen to world class music right next to bagged carrots? But it was PERFECT!

Blessings on the journey, Johnny, and best wishes to your lovely family, too...

[peacetree]

I used to go every saturday morning to his market/cafe/radio show for his saturday morning show there in sebastopol in that little place which I think is now a chinese restaurant. Sometimes he even had his band show up and play,( part or all of them) during his show.I could never understand why it was not standing room only for his radio show, as he was such a great host and fount of info about the music and his past with so many of the folks he discovered.Plus he sometimes had live music there, during his show. It was interesting that Etta passed so soon after he did, as he really started her career. His amazing, absolutely incredible art ( he was also a fantasic painter) hung all over his market/cafe there, kind of like an ongoing art show. We would sit a couple of feet away while he chatted with us and the other folks who would come to listen to his saturday morning radio show for KPFA. He was funny, easygoing , an endless source of info about the music business, and the black community he grew up in "then" and now, and the changes he had seen. He was a gentle softie with the children and older folks who would come, aand warmly welcoming to everyone. He had a great cookbook with a bunch of collaborators of his musical crowd contributing, called "red beans and rice and other rock and roll recipes" and another book about music and history. He was endlessly creative and interested in others' creative stuff too and sharing what he knew .I also remember him talking about his birds, chickens and antics of his grandbabies,and the ongoing musical creations of his family. I think the world is richer for his having been here, and poorer for his passing. He was a gentle , kind , unassuming, creative ,intelligent ,politically forward thinking, humorous , openminded man. I am grateful to have met him and been able to listen to him do his shows. He was a treasure here in sonoma county, and I wonder how many folks realized this then?
Peace, Christmas

[Roland Jacopetti]

I used to go every saturday morning to his market/cafe/radio show for his saturday morning show there in sebastopol in that little place which I think is now a chinese restaurant. Sometimes he even had his band show up and play,( part or all of them) during his show.I could never understand why it was not standing room only for his radio show, as he was such a great host and fount of info about the music and his past with so many of the folks he discovered.Plus he sometimes had live music there, during his show. It was interesting that Etta passed so soon after he did, as he really started her career. His amazing, absolutely incredible art ( he was also a fantasic painter) hung all over his market/cafe there, kind of like an ongoing art show. We would sit a couple of feet away while he chatted with us and the other folks who would come to listen to his saturday morning radio show for KPFA. He was funny, easygoing , an endless source of info about the music business, and the black community he grew up in "then" and now, and the changes he had seen. He was a gentle softie with the children and older folks who would come, aand warmly welcoming to everyone. He had a great cookbook with a bunch of collaborators of his musical crowd contributing, called "red beans and rice and other rock and roll recipes" and another book about music and history. He was endlessly creative and interested in others' creative stuff too and sharing what he knew .I also remember him talking about his birds, chickens and antics of his grandbabies,and the ongoing musical creations of his family. I think the world is richer for his having been here, and poorer for his passing. He was a gentle , kind , unassuming, creative ,intelligent ,politically forward thinking, humorous , openminded man. I am grateful to have met him and been able to listen to him do his shows. He was a treasure here in sonoma county, and I wonder how many folks realized this then?
Peace, Christmas

Remember how much he loved pigeons? I found an old book or magazine from the 20s with a huge piece on pigeons, illustrated with old b&w photos, and was so happy to be able to bring it to him. And I remember listening to him fairly late one night, complete with his brass section and Jackie Paine singing, thinking "This is the loudest music that's ever been played in Sebastopol."Ave atque vale, Johnny.

[peacetree]

I just was thinking about another occasion, one wildly fantastic New Years Eve with Johnny Otis and his Band of fantastic musicians and singers at the Wells Fargo Center . The place was jammed, sold out ,and everyone of every race and background was there. We might have been the only lesbian couple, but no one cared ( I don't think so anyway), and he had us dancing in the aisles and seats , and everywhere in the building , even in the lobby. It absolutely felt like the whole building was alive and jumping with all of us.Everyone was smiling and laughing and dressed to the nines. He was radiant, and glowing and though I have long ago forgotten the year, I will never forget his music and delight. He seemed to be years younger, channeling an earlier decade. We collectively could have solved the energy crisis with the enthusiasm and absolute joy expressed by the whole crowd. He really could rock a house!