This page has been designed and is administrated for Otis by Gareth Morgan. - [email protected]
“This is my Blues. 37 years of playing Blues, and still love it and fight for it. I hope you enjoy the kind of real music that I grew up listening to in the 60’s and still love the best. This is the only kind of music that is a cure for today’s MTV from hellâ€.
Otis Grand, 2008
OTIS GRAND , the Gentle Giant of the Blues, has absorbed a wide spectrum of Blues styles in the past four decades and now leads the hottest TRUE Blues and R & B band around today. More importantly, he not only carries the real blues TORCH for the heros of yesterday, his superb blues guitar technique and playing and originality and a tight band that rocks mean, Otis Grand also sets the standards for many others to follow which ensure that he is at the top of the Blues scene for many years to come. Otis Grand has pioneered the big band blues sound over the last few years, starting with a West Coast R&B band and now moving into his present guitar led Big City style Blues. For the past ten years Otis has received a number of Awards including UK BLUES GUITARIST OF THE YEAR (1990- 96), Best Blues Albums, Best Band, and nominations to the prestigious W.C. HANDY BLUES Awards in Memphis, Tenn.Surely testimony enough of the man's ability and dedication to the Blues.
Anyone who has experienced the Gentle Giant of the Blues in action can bear witness to the devastating effect he and his band can have on the audience. His gigs are now legendary, drawing acclaim from purists and from those who come looking for a good night out.Otis has toured constantly turning in consistently great performances, building a big following and confirming his "numero uno" status in Europe.
On his 1992 CD, the esteem with which Otis is now held by his many friends in the Blues World is evident by the stature of those musicians who have joined him on "HE KNOWS THE BLUES". Critics have already claimed it to be "...one of the best contemporary blues records heard for a long,long time". ( source : Tony Burke - Editor, Blues & Rhythm Magazine )
Not content with having become the Undisputed leader of the British Blues Scene, Otis goes on to attack the USA & Canada head on and comes out with a clear winner with his new 1994 CD. Recorded in Boston,mass. "NOTHING ELSE MATTERS .." shows where he's coming from and where he intends to go!.This CD has already received the highest critical acclaim for a new artist (see News/Articles Page..), and has also hit no. 6 on The prestigious USA HARD REPORT TOP 20 BLUES CHART.
Otis Grand’s music career spans over 25 years. Otis Grand has played a major role in the evolution of the modern blues scene in Britain.
After the decline of the British blues boom of the 60’s , Otis arrived on the scene and formed his 10-pieces Rhythm and Blues band , and firmly established his act and style of blues in Britain , quickly becoming a firm favourite throughout Europe.
Guitarist Otis Grand has been playing blues guitar since the age of 13 - Otis says: "I never listened to any one but B.B.king and Robert Johnson for a very very long time, and I am glad I’ve missed out on all the heavy blues/rock/acid thing that was going on in the 60’s. This way I have preserved the deep blues roots of my playing style, which now goes with me in whatever musical journey I am attempting."
In 1988 Otis Grand released his first vinyl album ‘Always Hot’ with his big band. The band quickly dominated the UK blues scene, and soon after began to establish an international audience by touring extensively in Europe, and also as an opening act for such major stars as John Lee Hooker, BB king, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Steve Winwood, among others.
The following years he released three further CD’s each with a veteran Blues artists: Guitar Shorty in 1991, Philip Walker in 1992, and 50’s Tenor sax star Joe Houston in 1994. The Shorty release won a coveted W.C. Handy Award for best Blues album (foreign)
In 1990 Otis Grand released his first solo album for Sequel Records with musicians and guests from the USA. The album, titled "He Knows the Blues", was critically and commercially acclaimed. This album was testimony to Otis’ superb song writing and guitar playing, and as well as his standing in the blues fraternity by the calibre of artists who agreed to appear on this album.
1995 release of Otis’ second album for Sequel," Nothing Else matters " further established his reputation as one of the country’s best and most convincing bluesman. This powerhouse release mixes slow scorchers with uptempo jumpers that had the dance floors from Scandinavia to California packed. This album was also Grand’s major U,S debut and a ‘ kick the door open’ approach to American Blues fans. The CD established Otis as the highest seller in the UK and Europe with total sales outdoing other blues artist, including Robert Cray and Duke Robillard. It has also debuted at no. 8 and reached on the US top 20 Blues Charts, and received extensive radio play in both Canada and the USA.
With his third release for Sequel , Perfume & Grime, Otis Grand became a huge guitar star all over the USA & Canada. During the summer and autumn of 1998, Otis embarked on a major tour of Canada and the United states, and appearred at all the major Blues festivals, including the long running San Francisco Blues festival, and the Mighty Cisco Systems OTTAWA Bluesfest. This led to a 3 year stretch with IKE TURNER & the Rhythm Kings .. as Guitarist and Band leader. Otis also performed in concert throughout the UK and Europe with his own band in support of the GRAND UNION CD release, with special appearances by Anson Funderburgh and Debbie Davis.
Otis continues to tour throughout the world, bringing his Classic Big Band Blues to many festivals and Events. He released a long-awaited Live CD plus a highly acclaimed duet CD with Joe Louis Walker aptly titled "Guitar Brothers". He also continues to make special guest appearances with other Blues Artists, and through the annual OTIS GRAND R&B ALLSTAR EXTRAVAGANZA, has teamed super artists like STEVE CROPPER and KIM WILSON together with the Late ROSCO GORDON and SUGAR RAY NORCIA. Others legendary artists invited were JOE HOUSTON, T99 NELSON.
Otis has also started a " Blues in Schools " lecture programme aimed at the younger generation and which has been very successfully received in High Schools in the South of Britain.
Recently, Sanctuary Records released a 2 CD, 34 track best-of Compilation of Otis' Studio Recordings in recognition of sales figures in the past 10 years. The label has created a well-packaged and informative product containing the best tracks with many special guest artists. The Box is titled "In Grand Style", and has been a best seller in the UK and Europe.
Otis' most recent 2007 release HIPSTER BLUES is probably the one and only true 60's themed guitar Album which takes you back to the good old days of Chicago Blues at it's best.
For the complete Otis Grand Story, see The BLUES GAZZETTE article by Mick Rainsford www.otisgrand.com
"Otis Grand Blues Band.... the best Blues Band this country has produced in two decades "
Blues & Rhythm Magazine 1992
This page has been designed and is administrated for Otis by Gareth Morgan. - [email protected]
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