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Johnny Otis

Known as the "The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues", Johnny Otis crossed racial divides to become a bandleader, television host, political activist, chef, cartoonist and one of the great all round entertainers of the 1950s. Born in California to Greek immigrant parents, he changed his name from Ioannis Alexandres Veliotes in his teens and became one of the first white Americans to perform with black musicians when he played drums with swing orchestras around his home town of Oakland in the mid-1940s. Settling in Los Angeles, he opened The Barrelhouse Club and his house band led the ...