The Post World War II Rhythm and Blues Scene

The Post World War II Rhythm and Blues Scene

Robi was a thug, but he knew how money worked. With an end-to-end music business, he knew what worked in the industry. He understood Johnny Ace had potential, so he outfitted him with new clothes and a new haircut. Knowing there was work to be done, Robi’s wife Evelyn was the force behind the brand and had the hustle needed to make Robi’s music agency work. In this episode, we’ll explore Rhythm and Blues and learn more about this music lexicon's history.

Music Award Nominations

Every year is different for music nomination awards. When you’re a National Institute of Recording Engineers member, you can vote on up to 20 categories. However, it depends on who you are, what you do in the Academy, and what music categories you can vote on for the music awards. The Academy recommends that you vote only in the categories or music genres in which you participate or have expertise.

Johnny Otis in the Johnny Ace Story

Working with Johnny Otis, who is working with many Peacock Record artists, which are recorded in Houston with Otis producing the music. He also had a big part in the Johnny Ace story.

Growing up in an integrated community in Berkley, California, he chose to live and express himself as a black man even though he was Greek. He chose to live as a black man because that’s where he felt comfortable and ingratiated himself into the black community.

Shuggie Otis, Johnny’s son, was Phillipino, African-American, and of Greek descent. Born in 1953, his birth name is Johnny Alexander, but his street name was Shuggie, short for Sugar. In addition to his fame from being the son of Johnny Otis, Shuggie was also was of the first people to have a drum machine on a record.

Dinah Washington

Dinah Washington was an American singer and pianist who was one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s. A jazz vocalist, she performed and recorded the time's blues, R&B, and traditional pop music.

Dinah was an amazing and beautiful woman who was as good or better at composing and performing music than Johnny Otis. She’s a more powerful singer, had a cleaner production, and had better musicianship. Everything about her music career was A+!

If Johnny had the production capacity of Dinah, would his music be or sound different? I’m not sure it’s simple, but this leaves a question that is open for music debate.

Listen in each week as we cover another Tennessee music history topic on The Journeymen Podcast!

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