Johnny Otis

Johnny Otis (born Ioannis (Yannis) Veliotes on December 28, 1921 in Vallejo, California) is a Greek-American blues and rhythm and blues pianist, vibraphonist, drummer, singer, bandlea

Johnny Otis (born Ioannis (Yannis) Veliotes on December 28, 1921 in Vallejo, California) is a Greek-American blues and rhythm and blues pianist, vibraphonist, drummer, singer, bandleader, and impresario.

After playing in swing orchestras he founded his own band in 1945. This band played with Wynonie Harris and Charles Brown. In 1947 he and Bardu Ali opened the Barrelhouse Club in the Watts district of Los Angeles. He reduced the size of his band and hired singers Mel Walker, Little Esther and the Robins (who later became the Coasters). With this band, which toured extensively throughout the United States as the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan, he had a long string of rhythm and blues hits through 1952.