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Clyde Otis

 


Songwriter, Record producer, Music Publishing Company founder/executive and A&R Executive Clyde Lovern Otis was born in Prentiss, Mississippi, on 11 September 1924. It was a poor family who could not afford a radio. He is best known for his collaboration with singer Brook Benton. BMI note that he is credited as song writer of around 800 songs.During World War II he served with the US Marines. Inspired by fellow Marine Bobby "Route 66" Troup he began song writing, while working as a cab driver, with his first success being a recording by Nat King Cole in 1956. In 1958 he joined Mercury Records as A&R Director. He worked closely with Brook Benton, Dinah Washington, Timi Yuro, Sarah Vaughan ("Broken hearted melody"), and The Diamonds. In 1962 he produced 31 of Mercury's 51 Chart Hits.  After leaving Mercury for a brief spell with Liberty Records, he moved to Nashville, and went independent. In 1994 he received a Grammy Award for a recording with Natalie Cole.

Clyde Otis died in Englewood, New Jersey, from natural causes, on 8 January 2008.

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