{"product_id":"midnight-at-the-barrelhouse-the-johnny-otis-story-9780816666782","title":"Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story","description":"\u003cp\u003eConsidered by many to be the godfather of R\u0026amp;B  Johnny Otismusician  producer  artist  entrepreneur  pastor  disc jockey  writer  and tireless fighter for racial equalityhas had a remarkable life by any measure. In this first biography of Otis  George Lipsitz tells the largely unknown story of a towering figure in the history of African American music and culture who was  by his own description  black by persuasion.  Born to Greek immigrant parents in Vallejo  California  in 1921  Otis grew up in an integrated neighborhood and identified deeply with black music and culture from an early age. He moved to Los Angeles as a young man and submerged himself in the citys vibrant African American cultural life  centered on Central Avenue and its thriving music scene. Otis began his six-decade career in music playing drums in territory swing bands in the 1930s. He went on to lead his own band in the 1940s and open the Barrelhouse nightclub in Watts. His R\u0026amp;B band had seventeen Top 40 hits between 1950 and 1969  including Willie and the Hand Jive. As a producer and A\u0026amp;R man  Otis discovered such legends as Etta James  Jackie Wilson  and Big Mama Thornton.  Otis also wrote a column for the Sentinel  one of L.A.s leading black newspapers  became pastor of his own interracial church  hosted popular radio and television shows that introduced millions to music by African American artists  and was lauded as businessman of the year in a 1951 cover story in Negro Achievements magazine. Throughout his career Otiss driving passion has been his fearless and unyielding opposition to racial injustice  whether protesting on the front lines  exposing racism and championing the accomplishments of black Americans  or promoting African American musicians.  Midnight at the Barrelhouse is a chronicle of a life rich in both incident and inspiration  as well as an exploration of the complicated nature of race relations in twentieth-century America. Otiss total commitment to black culture and transcendence of racial boundaries  Lipsitz shows  teach important lessons about identity  race  and power while encapsulating the contradictions of racism in American society.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45914144702517,"sku":"ByrdShop_0816666784","price":242.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780816666782.jpg?v=1787336248","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/midnight-at-the-barrelhouse-the-johnny-otis-story-9780816666782","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}