Clyde Otis

Biography

Best-known for his lengthy and enormously effective collaboration with singer Brook Benton, Clyde Otis was being among the most prolific songwriters and companies from the post-war era, building music business background as the initial BLACK A&R professional for a significant label. Blessed in Prentice, MS, Otis’ early contact with music was limited — his family members didn’t even very own a radio — and he just began composing music after conference “Path 66” article writer Bobby Troup throughout a stint within the Marines. Pursuing his release, Otis resolved in NEW YORK, spending another eight years long lasting some day careers while honing his songwriting during the night. He was generating a cab when in 1954 he overheard one of is own fares discussing a celebration being tossed by music publisher Sidney Kornhauser; Otis confident the woman to provide Kornhauser his melody “That’s All THERE’S compared to that,” which became a high 20 pop strike for Nat “Ruler” Cole in middle-1956. Upon becoming a member of Mercury’s A&R personnel in 1958, Otis started writing and creating materials for Brook Benton; you start with the quantity three smash “It’s Only a Matter of Period,” they teamed for some 17 consecutive strikes, including “Endlessly,” “A LOT OF Methods,” “Kiddio,” as well as the novelty preferred “The Boll Weevil Music.” Otis also created several duets between Benton and Dinah Washington, included in this “Baby (YOU HAVE WHAT MUST BE DONE)” and “A Rockin’ GREAT WAY (To FOOL AROUND and Fall in Like)”; he done Washington’s solo attempts, as well, especially the traditional “Just what a Difference each day Makes.” Otis also helmed strikes for Sarah Vaughan (“Broken-Hearted Melody”), Timi Yuro (the impressive “Harm”) as well as the Diamonds (“The Stroll”), and in 1962 he only produced a fantastic 33 of Mercury’s 51 graph hits. Upon departing the label, he briefly tenured at Liberty Information before founding his personal publishing company, the Clyde Otis GROUP, and getting into 3rd party creation. Upon relocating to Nashville, Otis created sessions for nation stars Charlie Affluent and Sonny Wayne; Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, and Patti Web page all documented his songs aswell.

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