Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis was a first generation Greek-American singer, musician, composer, bandleader, record producer, and talent scout. He was a seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll. He discovered numerous artists early in their careers who went on to become highly successful in their own right, including Little Esther Phillips, Etta James, Alan O'Day, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Ace, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John, Hank Ballard, and The Robins, among many others. Otis has been called the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues".

28 December 1921

Born on the same birth day (28 December): Adam Vinatieri • Benny Agbayani • Brian Redhead • Gayle King • George FitzRoy, Duke of Northumberland • Girma Wolde-Giorgis • Hansjörg Kunze • John Henson (basketball) • John Y. Brown Jr. • Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne • Khalid Boulahrouz • Rudi Faßnacht • Sandra Faber • Stephen Frost • Tim Johnson (South Dakota politician)

Born in the same month (December 1921): Alvy Moore • Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore • Dimitri Fampas • George Roy Hill • Guy Beaulne • Hawkshaw Hawkins • John Whitworth (musician) • Lore Berger • Michael Horne (engineer) • Rashid Karami • Steve Otto