Otis Blackwell (Brooklyn, USA)

From the liner notes:
"There aren't many performers who can sing a program of originals written by himself which is at the same time is a program of Rock 'n Roll standards."

Well, Tony Joe White is another one I can think of.
But it is true, Otis Blackwell wrote many songs that became huge hits for others.
For instance, he gave up 50% of the copyright of Don't Be Cruel to Elvis Presley because this young man from Tupelo was 'going to turn the music business around'.


And didn't it just? After all, 50% of a whole lot is better than 100% of nothing.

Wait! There's more.
Otis also wrote All Shook Up, Return to Sender for Elvis. Great Balls of Fire and Breathless for Jerry Lee Lewis. Fever for Peggy Lee. Handy Man for James Taylor. And I have a fantastic version of his Daddy Rolling Stone  by Phil Alvin somewhere.

I bought the cd pictured here for 3 €uro yesterday at a fair. Without even looking for it.
Now Otis was mainly a songwriter, he doesn't have that great a voice. He also had the bad habit of recording several other cd's with the same hit songs over and over.

If you should come across one of these cheap get it asap. It's a historical document of the man who made others into big stars with songs he indeed did write.