Talk:Johnny Otis

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I can't find any reference to Johnny Otis as the king of rock and roll, so I removed the assertion that he was known as such. I'd be happy to find out I didn't look hard enough. Trontonian

Contents 1 Birth date and name 2 Wow! No external references for sources of any kind! 3 Update 4 = Update 5 ???

[edit] Birth date and name

According to the California Birth Index and the 1930 census, Johnny was born John Alexander Otis. He was born on 29 December 1921 (not 28 December), the son of Alexander John Veliotes, a grocer from Greece and Irene Kiskakes, a housewife, also from Greece. He was probably called by his Greek name Yanna, but his actual name and the name on his birth registration is John Alexander after his father. His son, Shuggie, was born Johnny Alexander Veliotes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.91.160.14 (talk) 06:56, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Wow! No external references for sources of any kind!

I came here from Transracial. They said he was a Greek who posed as African American. Well, we need a picture of him! We also need sources because I google image searched him and I think there are duplicates of people with his name. Shorthair 16:33, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC)

The way I understand it, Johnny grew up in "ethnic" berkeley, hanging out mostly w/ african-americans, and gave up his membership in the privileged white race because of the abuse he saw around him. He identifies himself as african in the same way I have identified as native american (I'm 1/128 +/- cherokee). He deserves an article w/ broader scope by someone with more direct knowledge than myself. I have on tape a "retrospective" consisting of a few of his radio shows on KPFA. Perhaps I'll use these as a source to expand this article.

See new link to Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. His official site identifies his 'hood as predominately African American. Steve Pastor 22:02, 10 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Update

Added image. Added link. (Ibaranoff24 06:24, 9 March 2006 (UTC))

[edit] = Update

I corrected the location of Johnny's home. He lived and worked in Sebastopol. His radio show was broadcast from local restaurants. Johnny moved to Southern California a few years ago. I know this because I recorded and/or mixed Johnny's last 3 albums. The last project was "Food for Life" in 2001, which I believe to be his last recording. His health has deteriorated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.123.180.242 (talk) 03:54, 7 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit]  ???

Johnny Otis was one of the most prominent white figures in the history of black R&B. Does this make anysense? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.105.252.11 (talk) 00:32, 28 January 2008 (UTC)