If ever there used to be a musician who went his personal method, it’s Shuggie Otis. In 1974, he became down an be offering to exchange Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones. He performed with Frank Zappa when he used to be 15, however stated no to operating with David Bowie, Spirit, Good friend Miles and Blood, Sweat And Tears. He instructed Quincy Jones he didn’t desire a manufacturer, he may just do all of it himself.
“I by no means had an issue with repute,” instructed The Blues mag in 2016. “Put my face on a billboard, make me a celeb, I don’t thoughts that, however provided that it’s for my song. I’m no person’s sideman, I’m my very own guy. I’m Shuggie Otis.”
For many years, Shuggie Otis has loved cult hero standing; his 1974 3rd album, Inspiration Data, which he produced, organized, sang and performed guitar, bass, drums and keyboards on, is hailed a misplaced vintage. A psychedelic soul and blues symphony, it lead the way for Prince and D’Angelo.
“It used to be intended to take me overground,” he says, “however it used to be simply too experimental. They anticipated me to report instantly blues and so they couldn’t open their minds to it. Quickly after its liberate, I used to be dropped by way of the label. I didn’t assume it used to be a large deal. I assumed, I’ll have a brand new deal in a few weeks. As an alternative it’s taken 40 years to get signed once more.”
Born Johnny Alexander Veliotes, Otis, the son of bandleader, musician and R&B impresario Johnny Otis, honed his craft in his father’s band, making his recorded debut on the comfortable age of 12. At 15, he used to be found out by way of Frank Zappa who helped him get a report care for label homeowners the Bihari Brothers; the end result, Johnny’s Chilly Shot!, used to be his first correct billing on a report.
As a thanks, Otis performed on Peaches en Regalia, the stand-out song on Zappa’s 1969 Sizzling Rats album. He additionally joined Al Kooper at the Kooper, Stills and Bloomfield Tremendous Consultation album follow-up Kooper Consultation, prior to signing to CBS for 3 solo albums – 1970’s Right here Comes Shuggie Otis, 1971’s Freedom Flight and 1974’s Inspiration Data.
It used to be a music he wrote and recorded for the second one of those who broke via. Strawberry Letter 23, his paean to the summer season of affection, hit the USA Billboard R&B No.1 spot and Sizzling 100 Most sensible 5 when lined by way of the Brothers Johnson in 1977. The music is a fixture in Otis’ are living display lately, however, he says, the focal point is at the long term. It’s comprehensible: his desert years noticed him succumb to alcohol abuse, even if he’s absolutely recovered now.
He’s in a excellent temper lately, it’s early morning, the solar is shining and he’s sat in his LA condominium surrounded by way of tools; a number of guitars, keyboards, drum machines and basses fill each and every to be had house. The Blues is right here to speak to him about each his vibrant previous and what he’s doing now; there’s a new unmarried Ice Cream Celebration, an incredible psych blues that meshes Johnny “Guitar” Watson with Hendrix. He’s additionally in the midst of recording his first studio album since Inspiration Data; its follow-up is within the pipeline too.
“Other people concept I had given up, I had long gone into hiding. And there have been arduous instances, however I’m no quitter. I saved making song, simply no person used to be listening. Now I’m again and I’m pushing on.”
What are your first musical recollections?
Looking at my father’s band rehearse in our front room each and every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. It used to be such an exhilarating time. Rock’n’roll used to be in its infancy and there could be Don And Dewey, Johnny “Guitar” Watson and Jimmy Nolen in the lounge.
Jimmy Nolen went directly to play guitar in James Brown’s band…
Him and Johnny “Guitar” Watson have been an enormous affect alone enjoying, T-Bone Walker too. However I didn’t assume anything else of them being spherical the home, they have been simply circle of relatives pals.
You began out at the drums, now not guitar even though.
I used to move via my father’s scrapbook of his band at the highway, there have been a whole lot of photos of him enjoying the drums, so I naturally sought after to play the drums too. So my dad purchased me a drum package for Christmas when I used to be 4 years previous. I used to be actually fascinated with enjoying even supposing I used to be so younger
What brought on the transfer from enjoying drums to the guitar?
I used to be 11, I used to be enjoying little league baseball, I were given ran into and my left collarbone used to be damaged. I used to be in a sling all summer season and once we went again to college, The Beatles and the Stones and Jimi Hendrix have been out and I were given excited about guitar. I taught myself the best way to play out of a chord ebook. I had courses for approximately a 12 months however I wasn’t a excellent scholar. However on a daily basis after I were given house from faculty, I’d get the guitar out of the closet and play. I practised at all times. I assumed I used to be going to have massive repute, it used to be anticipated of me, everybody round me concept it.
Was once it simply the British Invasion that you at the moment?
As a result of my father used to be a DJ and had his personal radio and TV display, he were given despatched a large number of data, he had an enormous assortment, and I were given to find blues, R&B, soul, rock, even classical and I appreciated all of them similarly. No matter felt excellent to me, I appreciated.
You debuted on report at 12. What do you consider of the ones first periods?
My father had a studio within the storage. I used to be looking at him report in it since I used to be six, so studios weren’t a peculiar setting for me. At some point my father invited me to play guitar on a unmarried he used to be recording, I Had A Candy Dream, sung by way of Lillie Castle of The Raelettes, after which he requested me to play on Gene Connors’ duvet of Ode To Billy Joe. I used to be simply beginning out so it used to be a large damage.
Frank Zappa additionally gave you a serving to hand as smartly.
Frank Zappa used to be doing a large interview for Lifestyles mag and he used to be doing it at the 60s counterculture and the hippies – other folks concept he used to be a hippie however he used to be maximum indubitably now not a hippie. He used to be a large Johnny Otis fan as a young person even though, and he sought after to interview Dad.
So I went with Dad to his area whilst he used to be interviewed after which we went downstairs to jam in Frank’s basement after the interview. He saved all his tools down there and he performed guitar, I performed guitar, my dad performed this little organ, and that’s the place he came upon that I may just play guitar. He known as up the Bihari brothers who ran Trendy, Kent and RPM data. He instructed them they had to report a blues album with my dad and that I performed guitar and must be concerned too. My dad had labored with them prior to in order that they already knew who he used to be and what he used to be able to.
That ended in the 1968 Chilly Shot! album credited to The Johnny Otis Display That includes Mighty Mouth Evans And Shuggie Otis on Kent Information.
It didn’t hit nationally, however it actually took off in the neighborhood. The only Nation Lady, it used to be actually large in Los Angeles and other folks have been pronouncing sure issues about me and I used to be actually proud. I assumed that I’d made it.
In some way you had, as a result of then got here 1970’s Kooper Consultation – Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis.
I met Al Kooper on the Columbia Information song conference in Century Town in Los Angeles. My dad and I had signed to Columbia at the again of the luck of Chilly Shot!. Al used to be status round the corner from me, he used to be together with his spouse. He walked over, offered himself and stated, “How would you love to do Tremendous Consultation section two?” I stated, “After all.” He instructed me that Mike [Bloomfield] could be there. He’d already made the [1968] album Tremendous Consultation with Mike and Stephen Stills.
Anyway, one day Mike dropped out, I don’t know why, however it nonetheless became out nice. It used to be the primary time I went on an plane, flying to New York for Columbia Information. I used to be simply 15 and Dad used to be actually pleased with me. We were given the entire thing down in two nights after hours. Al used to be actually instrumental in my early profession. My dad primary, Frank Zappa quantity two, Al Kooper quantity 3, Columbia Information quantity 4.
The blues-rooted Right here Comes Shuggie Otis from 1970 used to be your first album as a soloist.
No longer actually, even if it’s billed as that, however I nonetheless noticed myself very a lot as a facet individual. I wanted lend a hand with writing songs, I hadn’t written any actually at that time and so my dad did a large number of the writing at the album. I did write the song to Oxford Grey, even if my father had so much to do with the orchestral association at the music. The bit when the orchestra is available in with the slide guitar, that used to be my dad’s concept.
He even got here up with the album name and the name of its follow-up, [1971’s] Freedom Flight, and he blended Freedom Flight. But it surely used to be the easiest name, it summed up how I felt and the temper of the days. It used to be the early 70s, the black panthers, the hippies, revolution used to be nonetheless within the air.
Your father used to be pivotal within the evolution of rock’n’roll and R&B, now not handiest as a bandleader, musician and composer, however as a facilitator and manufacturer for such greats as Etta James, Large Mama Thornton, Little Willie John and Jackie Wilson. What used to be he love to paintings with within the studio?
As a manufacturer my dad used to be at all times on best of it. He didn’t waste any time within the studio, he used to be an overly businesslike individual. If any individual used to be making a song out of music, he’d forestall the tape proper there, he’d be like, “Let’s do it once more.” He used to be by no means imply, or nasty or impolite, simply very to the purpose. He used to be involved in doing the one-take consultation. If it’s good to get it executed within the first take, he used to be satisfied. That used to be his mindset, and he would at all times get the rhythm segment down within the first take. That’s how they did it when he used to be first recording with a large jazz band, it used to be “are available in, play it as soon as, get out of right here”. That’s how I do it now – rehearse, move into studio, do it.
On 1974’s 3rd album, Inspiration Data, you actually got here of age.
It’s the primary time I labored with out my father, even if he used to be there at first of the periods, which have been at Columbia Studios in Hollywood. We had a month-long excursion in the United Kingdom and Spain, and whilst we have been in London we went to a practice. Dad instructed Columbia Information there that somewhat than give us an album advance, may just they construct a 16-track studio behind our area. So when that used to be completed, my dad stated, “Opt for it.” So I did. From time to time I’d have any individual run the machines, however as a rule it used to be simply me in there.
You became down an be offering to exchange Mick Taylor in The Rolling Stones whilst you have been making Inspiration Data. Weren’t you tempted?
No, I actually wasn’t.
How did the be offering come about?
Billy Preston known as me up one afternoon, my dad replied the telephone, handed it over to me. Billy used to be a mutual pal of me and the Stones and he stated, “I’m right here with The Rolling Stones in Amsterdam and so they’re in search of a guitar participant. Do you wish to have to enroll in the crowd?” I stated, “Billy, I’ve were given my very own team now and I’m enjoying this night and the next day, I will be able to’t.” He sounded just a little let down however perceived to perceive.
You spot I used to be so into my very own song, I didn’t simply need to be on degree and become profitable, I knew in an instant when he requested me that I didn’t need to do it, I simply sought after to paintings alone factor. It used to be the similar with Spirit, Blood Sweat & Tears and Bowie after they requested me. I’d have stated no to somebody at the moment who requested me to enroll in their band, I sought after to experiment with writing and arranging.
Good friend Miles sought after to report with you as smartly, didn’t he?
Sure, he and Billy Preston sought after to place a trio at the side of me. I did do a consultation with Good friend even though, however it used to be with Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield. We have been recording within the Report Plant in Sausalito [California] and we have been the primary or some of the first bands to report there. We have been intended to be recording an album of instrumentals, and I stopped up enjoying bass as Al removed the bassist on the second one day.
I consider us doing Booker T And The MGs’ Hip Hug-Her, however after the 3rd day I misplaced pastime, and I stated, “I wanna move house.” Mike stated that used to be k. He used to be a pleasant man, he understood. Al Kooper used to be the boss of the consultation even though, and now not too satisfied, however it used to be 4 other folks stepping into 4 other instructions, and it wasn’t operating for me.
Outdoor of blues circles, you’re very best recognized for writing Strawberry Letter 23.
I wrote the song on upright piano at house. My father had his own residence studio, an eight-track within the storage downstairs. There used to be just a little yellow upright piano in there, which I used to play on at all times, and I got here up with the speculation on that, then I got here up with the team spirit guitar section at the piano too. Writing the lyrics took me a number of hours, everybody stated I will have to were on LSD after I wrote them, however I used to be instantly, I hadn’t attempted anything else at that time. However I used to be looking to relate to the hippie crowd, I perceived it as a love-in music, about being in a paradise.
What did you assume when the Brothers Johnson had successful with their model produced by way of Quincy Jones in 1977?
It used to be an ideal feeling. I assumed other folks noticed the music as a teenybopper music, that they concept it used to be foolish, however right here unexpectedly used to be validation and in addition cash. It introduced me my first cash and that hit saved me going throughout the arduous instances. It saved me alive.
After the Brothers Johnson hit, Quincy Jones then requested to supply you, however you became his be offering down. Why?
Strawberry Letter 23 had simply been successful and the proposition sounded attention-grabbing in the beginning. I gave him a tape of 10 songs. He didn’t opt for them, however he nonetheless sought after to supply me, however he sought after to have keep an eye on of the song and I didn’t like that in any respect. I’d executed Inspiration Data alone, that used to be how I sought after to paintings to any extent further. He used to be additionally going to tug out the entire stops and take a look at and make me a celeb, and that used to be horrifying too because it wouldn’t be alone phrases with my very own song, it will be with Quincy Jones calling the pictures.
However I known as him up, when he used to be generating Chaka Khan. I requested him if I may just hand around in the studio, he stated, “Neatly there received’t be a lot time for striking out.” I simply sought after to test it out, see what used to be happening. Deep down I knew it wasn’t going to paintings.
You’d been dropped by way of your label by way of this time even though, hadn’t you?
I had began on my fourth album and that’s after I were given the inside track. I had despatched them a few tracks, I used to be shifting abruptly after which it used to be, “That’s it for you.” My dad got here in and stated I’d been dropped, he regarded disappointed. It didn’t even depress me, I simply concept there can be a brand new deal quickly. So I saved recording, and I despatched tapes to report firms yearly, I used to be hopeful, however after some time I knew I used to be going to be rejected. There used to be pastime however they at all times sought after me to have a manufacturer, to surrender creative keep an eye on and I wasn’t ready to try this.
What’s at the playing cards for the long run?
Cleopatra Information were given in contact, they requested if I sought after to report a brand new album, and I’m part method via it now. I’m enjoying the entire tools on it up to now, the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard portions. The following degree is stepping into Cedric Norah and Jimmetta Rose Smith – my visitor vocalists – after which stepping into some horns.
I’ve additionally began making plans the album after that which is able to function my are living band, a quintet that includes my brother Nick Otis on drums and my son Eric Otis on guitar, then Swang on keyboards and backing vocals – he’s the vocalist in New York dance band Eastside Combine – after which Albert Wing on saxophone. He’s beautiful widely known.
Albert Wing as within the horn participant for Johnny “Guitar” Watson.
That’s proper, he positive can play, I’m very sure about this band.
And in the end, the place is your head at at this time?
Neatly I survived, I’m nonetheless right here, I nonetheless love song. There have been miserable instances, however there have been excellent instances too and there are excellent instances to come back. I’m now not 16, simply beginning out now, I’m 62, however it’s now not that other a spot I’m in. I’m nonetheless training at all times and it’s nonetheless thrilling. It’s like a brand new inspiration has come over me. ✰
This interview firstly gave the impression in The Blues Mag in 2016. Shuggie Otis’s fourth album, Inter-Fusion, used to be launched by way of Cleopatra in 2018.
