Two More Stars In The Heavenly Sky
Hello, hello--hello!
We begin this blog with some sad news, as the music industry suffered two devastating losses this past week.
The first was the loss of one of the first true showmen of the modern day music era, a person who had inspired many artists in the music industry, including me. Many people, from hearing his music, would have assumed that Johnny Otis was African American, but he proved that you don't have to be African American to have soul. And, you don't have to be African American to make sweet soul music. His now classic Hand Jive has inspired many, and had also inspired other similar sounding songs and even a couple of TV commercials. It had even inspired a song that I, myself had written, Otter Pop, about a talking sea otter. It's hard to believe how a simple little song such as Hand Jive could bring many people of many races, religions, and classes together, but it did. Johnny Otis will surely be missed.
The other major loss we suffered was expected, because she was ill for a very long time, but it also is no doubt just as devastating. Etta James was, far and away, one of the first great female crooners of the rock era. Her signature song, At Last, is just as timeless as Hand Jive, and I think it also was used in at least one TV commercial. Her style of singing brings to mind another top notch singer, Amy Winehouse, whom we also lost just a few months ago. Amy, just like Etta, was one of those artist that young girls such as myself would stand in front of the bedroom mirror and emulate as we would sing into our hairbrushes. Etta James will be equally as missed as was her very good friend and college, Johnny Otis, will be.
Well, that's all the time we have for this week. Until next time, be well, stay well. and remember to help the disaster survivors!
Sincerely,
Marley Sue
We begin this blog with some sad news, as the music industry suffered two devastating losses this past week.
The first was the loss of one of the first true showmen of the modern day music era, a person who had inspired many artists in the music industry, including me. Many people, from hearing his music, would have assumed that Johnny Otis was African American, but he proved that you don't have to be African American to have soul. And, you don't have to be African American to make sweet soul music. His now classic Hand Jive has inspired many, and had also inspired other similar sounding songs and even a couple of TV commercials. It had even inspired a song that I, myself had written, Otter Pop, about a talking sea otter. It's hard to believe how a simple little song such as Hand Jive could bring many people of many races, religions, and classes together, but it did. Johnny Otis will surely be missed.
The other major loss we suffered was expected, because she was ill for a very long time, but it also is no doubt just as devastating. Etta James was, far and away, one of the first great female crooners of the rock era. Her signature song, At Last, is just as timeless as Hand Jive, and I think it also was used in at least one TV commercial. Her style of singing brings to mind another top notch singer, Amy Winehouse, whom we also lost just a few months ago. Amy, just like Etta, was one of those artist that young girls such as myself would stand in front of the bedroom mirror and emulate as we would sing into our hairbrushes. Etta James will be equally as missed as was her very good friend and college, Johnny Otis, will be.
Well, that's all the time we have for this week. Until next time, be well, stay well. and remember to help the disaster survivors!
Sincerely,
Marley Sue
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