'As a kid I decided that if our society dictated that one had to be black or white, I would be black

'-Johnny Otis

From Wikipedia; Johnny Otis 'was an American singer, musician, composer, arranger, bandleader, talent scout, disc jockey, record producer, television show host, artist, author, journalist, minister, and impresario.[2] A seminal influence on American R&B and rock and roll, Otis discovered artists such as Little Esther, Big Mama Thornton, Jackie Wilson, Little Willie John and Hank Ballard and Etta James. Known as the original "King of Rock & Roll",[1] he is commonly referred to as the "Godfather of Rhythm and Blues"'

Otis was a Greek who was raised in a black neighborhood in Berkley California. He essentially lived as an African American his entire life. Though Otis is one of a handful of the most important people in the creation of rock-n-roll, I know little about him. From what I understand, some viewed Otis as a great man and accepted by most blacks while others viewed him as a huckster who took advantage of black talent.

Does anyone remember Johnny Otis? He just passed away a couple of years ago! Was he accepted in the African-American community

It kind of makes me mad that we know so little about Johnny Otis while every move the British Invasion bands made just a few years later is well documented. ----> rant for a different day.

In the light of the Dolezal controversy, I thought the Johnny Otis story was interesting and I hope to learn more about him.