Wow. What a sad week it has been for blues, R&B, and funk fans with the passing of Jimmy Castor, Johnny Otis, and then yesterday morning (Jan. 20th) more sad news arrived with word that Etta James had died in Riverside, California following complications from leukemia, which she had been undergoing treatment for for some years. She was 73 years of age but was just about to celebrate her 74th birthday next week. 

Born in LA and raised in the Fillmore District of San Francisco, Etta James (who won four Grammys in her lifetime) was loved by music fans worldwide and was inducted into both the Blues Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Her music could be filed under blues, R&B, rock and roll, and even jazz sometimes (her album Mystery Lady: Songs of Billie Holiday won her a jazz Grammy). Even though James is best known for her soothing soulful rendition of "At Last," I personally always thought of the singer, who I saw in concert many times and was always blown away by her performances, as a gritty soulful blues singer since she always brought so much raw emotion and passion to her music. As anyone who has ever seen James in concert will attest, she brought sexy (or "raunchy" as some said) to her stage act in which she always gave it her all.

       

James was discovered by Johnny Otis, who in a tragic twist of coincidence passed just 3 days earlier this week, back when she was just a teen and recorded her first record when she was only 15. That record was “Roll With Me Henry,” which -- because of its sexual innuendo -- had its title changed to “The Wallflower" and as such became a 1954 hit on Billboard's Rhythm-and-Blues chart. A year later, a more whitewashed, toned-down version of the song retitled "Dance with me Henry" by white singer Georgia Gibbs became a mainstream number one Billboard pop charts hit. Understandably, that bummed out the black singer who had created the song.

               

1) Drake Take Care (Cash Money/Universal)

2) The Roots Undun (MCA)

3) Luckyiam I Love Haters (L-R-G)

4) Moka Only & Chief Crickets (Feelin Music)

5) Flash Bang Grenada 10 Haters (Hellfyre Club)

Thanks to E-Lit at the Berkeley Amoeba for this week's top five chart plus overview of some of the new releases which, as E-Lit notes, is traditionally never too many in January as things just begin to pick up in the new year for new music releases. Of those new and recent releases just out (some late 2011) are ones from the ever-prolific Bay Area artist The Jacka, Bay Area underground hip-hopper Gee Soul, and the unique union that is Moka Only & Chief's Crickets which pairs Canadian rapper/producer Moka Only with equally talented Swiss producer  / beatmaker Chief for what E Lit wisely chooses as one of the best recent indie hip-hop releases. For proof check out the video below of the title track of “Crickets." The album is brimming with material like this which, while definitely hip-hop, can be filed under electronic or other - IE the sort of hip-hop album that people who normally don't like rap will like.  This is not the first time the Canadian and the Swiss hip-hop talents have collaborated. Four years ago they worked together on the tracks “Felt Before” and “Do Work.” This paved the way for Moka Only's 2008 album Lowdown Suite 2 - The Box to be released on Chief’s label Feelin’ Music on which this latest release also appears.

In an overwhelmingly positive display of heartfelt support for much loved longtime San Francisco music ambassador & avid cyclist TOPH ONE, who was recently the victim of a nasty hit-and-run accident on his bicycle, local Bay Area DJs (myself included) have rallied together to help raise funds for the injured DJ/writer/rider's rising medical expenses
via two separate fundraisers in San Francisco this weekend: tonight Friday(Jan 20th) at Public Works and on Sunday (Jan 22nd) at SOM Bar in the Mission - scroll down for full details. 

This morning the Amoeblog caught up with the native San Francisco DJ born Christopher Evans who, despite all he is dealing with ("pain, meds, bed positioning, etc.") since been rushed in serious condition to intensive care in SFGH (San Francisco General Hospital) twelve days ago, was in a surprisingly upbeat good frame of mind.  But then that is the kind of guy Toph is and always has been - looking on the positive and loving life.

Toph One has long been a renaissance man and diehard music fanatic (hip-hop, funk, reggae - anything good he's dug up and spun) known for his talents as a writer (both a graffiti writer and a music scribe who wrote for XLR8R and other outlets), and as a DJ who has tirelessly been spinning music in Bay Area clubs forever - and often spinning 10 times in a one week stretch. He also promoted his own Red Wine Social and Pepper parties for many years. In short Toph One loves music and life. He also has much love and compassion for others including those who are suffering from AIDS and each year he religiously participates in the AIDS/LifeCycle to raise funds & awareness in the annual "ride to end AIDS" and is hoping to be able to make a recovery in time to participate in this year's event in five months time.

Johnny Otis aka "The Godfather of Rhythm and Blues" died on Tuesday at his SoCal home in Altadena. Otis, who had been in poor health for the past several years, was 90 years of age and no exact cause of death has been announced so far.

Otis was not just an accomplished musician and bandleader/talent scout with a keen ear for true talent but he was also a talented radio DJ with a distinctive on-air voice. I met him at KPFA years ago when he used to host an entertaining and educational Saturday morning music show on that and other Pacifica stations up until seven years ago.

Otis, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994, earned the title of "The Godfather of Rhythm & Blues" due to his band from the late 1940s into the 50's forging a sound that melded jazz of the big band era with the pre-rockNroll spirit of raw church gospel mixed with blues - IE rhythm and blues or early rock'n'roll. As bandleader or A&R talent Otis' taste was impeccable. Artists he discovered and helped launch careers of included Jackie Wilson, Etta James, and Big Mama Thornton.

Otis was a Bay Area cat through and through. He was born in Vallejo to Greek parents (many listeners were shocked to discover he was not Black) and grew up in South Berkeley. He would later move to SoCal. As well as bandleader and sometime singer Otis played drums, piano, and vibraphone. In the early 1950's he scored fifteen hit singles on Billboard's rhythm-and-blues chart including the number one hit single "Double Crossing Blues."

Welcome to the first installment in a new guest Amoeblog series by Dave Paul called How I Got Here featuring an interview with Robbie Kowal of SunsetSF promotions company. This seven part guest series, which will run about once a week, will profile various folks in the entertainment industry "from doormen, DJ’s and promoters to venue owners, managers, and booking agents" and will, said Paul, "In their own words find out how they got where they are, and where they are going." Paul noted that upcoming How I Got Here profiles will include DJ Z-Trip (Los Angeles), Traci P of R.A.W. Entertainment (Las Vegas), Anthony Sanchez of Runaway Productions (Portland), Mike Maietta of CEG Presents (New York) Gabe Gurrola of Kons Photography + Design (Portland), and Michael Krouse of Madrone Art Bar (San Francisco).

Dave Paul, who has been profiled & interviewed himself here on the Amoeblog, began his music career back in 1984 when he started out as a mobile DJ. This wise career move would lead to Dave getting on the radio as college spinning hip-hop in its formative years. In 1991 Paul launched the long defunct but still revered Bomb Hip-Hop Magazine and in 1996 he morphed the magazine into Bomb Hip-Hop Records label which got named  "one of the fifteen independent labels that matter" by Rolling Stone magazine. As a club DJ Dave Paul has played in clubs throughout the US, and Europe. As a club promotor he's been producing his Prince and Michael Jackson themed parties for close to a decade now.  You can contact Dave Paul at - bombhiphop@gmail.com Guest Amoeblogger Dave Paul: You’re originally from Boston and lived in New Orleans for five years. How did you end up in San Francisco?