Otis was a world-renowned musician, composer, and band leader of Greek heritage who grew up around Black Folk in his native Berkeley, integrating himself into the Black music genre that he respected, loved, and carried out to America and the world, always acknowledging and celebrating its African-American roots. He introduced such early R&B stars as Little Esther and Big Mama Thorton to the world, and his "Willie And The Hand Jive" remains one of the old R&B standards.
