Songwriter Producer Passes

Clyde Otis was born in Prentice Mississippi in the year 1924.

Introduced to the music business by the writer of the famous song Route 66, Bobby Troup.

Otis joined the staff of Mercury Records in 1958, and amongst his earliest work produced and penned songs for Brook Benton. Later Mr. Otis worked Dinah Washington on "What a Difference a Day Makes", Sarah Vaughn on "Broken-Hearted Melody" and The Diamonds on "The Stroll".

After leaving Mercury and passing through a period with Liberty Records, Otis started his own label called the Clyde Otis Music Group, based in Nashville. With his own label Mr. Otis worked with and wrote for Bobby Darin, Charlie Rich, Sonny James, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis and Patti Page.

In 1994, Natalie Cole, whose recording of Otis's “Take a Look” won the Grammy Award for best jazz vocal.

For 40 years Mr. Otis lived in the East Hill section Englewood New, across the street from home of his friend, Dizzy Gillespie.

Clyde Otis died 10 days ago, at the age of 83.