Clyde Otis
| Clyde Otis | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 11, 1924 Prentiss, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | January 8, 2008 (aged 83) Englewood, New Jersey, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer |
| Associated acts | Brook Benton, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Natalie Cole |
Clyde Otis (September 11, 1924 – January 8, 2008), born in Prentiss, Mississippi, United States, was an American songwriter and record producer, best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton, and for being one of the first African-American A&R executives at a major label.
According to the music licensing organization Broadcast Music Inc., Otis is credited as the writer or co-writer of almost 800 songs.
After serving in the Marines during World War II, Otis moved to New York City and inspired by fellow Marine Bobby Troup, best known for "Route 66", began writing songs. Otis' first success was Nat King Cole’s recording of his song “That’s All There Is to That”, which reached the Billboard Top 20 in 1956.
On joining Mercury Records as director of A&R in 1958, Otis began writing and producing material for Brook Benton. This collaboration led to "It's Just a Matter of Time", "Endlessly", "So Many Ways", "Kiddio" and the novelty song, "The Boll Weevil Song".
Otis also produced a number of duets between Benton and Dinah Washington, among them "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall in Love)"; he worked on Washington's solo efforts, as well, most notably the classic "What a Difference a Day Makes" and "This Bitter Earth".
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