Otis Grand death: American blues musician died aged 73

Otis Grand
Otis Grand, american Blues musician passed away

 

Otis Grand, an American blues musician best known for his 1996 album Perfume and Grime, has passed away. Let’s see how did the musician die and his cause of death in detail.

How did Otis Grand die?

Otis Grand, one of the most gifted Blues guitarists has passed away unexpectedly. Bruce Katz posted this sad news in the following social media post that reads,

So sad to hear about the passing of the great Otis Grand, a huge talent and one-of-a-kind human being. Here I am playing at the Lucerne Blues Fest with Otis and his “Big American Band”. RIP Otis.

The entire Blues music industry is mourning the passing of British Blues musician Otis. His sudden demise has shocked everyone who knew him.

Who was Otis Grand?

Otis was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 14, 1950. He has lived most of his life in America. He started playing the guitar at the age of 13, naming B.B. King, T.Bone Walker, Otis Rush, and Johnny Otis as influences.

Otis has collaborated with numerous blues musicians from the San Francisco Bay region. At Eli’s Mile High Club in Oakland, California, he performed with local blues musicians. He then moved to the UK in the late 1980s, where he and his Dance Kings rose to fame as a nightclub act.

Otis has also created a lecture series called “Blues in Schools” that is geared towards the younger age and has been well received in high schools in the South of Britain.

In acknowledgment of sales achievements over the last ten years, Sanctuary Records just released a 2 CD, a 34-track best-of compilation of Otis’ five studio recordings.

With numerous special guest performers, the label has produced a well-packaged and educational CD that includes the best songs.

The box set, suitably titled “In Grand Style,” has been a best-seller in the UK and Europe. Otis was also a producer for numerous other blues bands throughout Europe for that distinct vintage recorded sound that can be instantly identified as a combination of vintage and modern Blues music

Musical career:

The musical career of Otis Grand spans over 25 years. Otis Grand has played an important influence in the development of the modern blues scene in the United Kingdom.

Following the end of the 1960s British blues boom, Otis entered the scene with his 10-piece Rhythm and Blues band, firmly established his act, and popularised his brand of blues throughout Europe.s the “Best UK Blues Guitarist.”

When Otis Grand And The Dance Kings first appeared on the British blues scene in the late 1980s, Joe Louis Walker’s appearance on the album furthered their success and earned them a nomination for a W.C. Handy Award. Visitors Jimmy Nelson, Pee Wee Ellis, and Walker once more appear on the second album.

Grand, a fantastic live performer, was named UK Blues Guitarist Of The Year in 1990, and, with his relentless touring schedule, he continued to show up in yearly surveys throughout the 1990s. 

From 1990 to 1996, the British Blues Connection magazine chosed him seven times. In addition to the eagerly anticipated Live CD, he also released the critically acclaimed “Guitar Brothers” duet CD with Joe Louis Walker.

As part of the OTIS GRAND R&B ALLSTAR EXTRAVAGANZA, he teams up superstars like STEVE CROPPER and KIM WILSON with the late ROSCO GORDON and Sugar Ray Norcia. He also continues to make rare guest performances with other Blues singers. JOE HOUSTON and T99 NELSON were two additional notable artists invited.

Otis Grand cause of death:

Otis Grand passed away at the age of 73. GRAND, the Gentle Giant of the Blues, has absorbed a wide range of Blues genres from TRUE Blues and R&B bands on the scene.

He was remembered for his outstanding music. Otis’s passing has made the entire blue music industry in deep grief. Although, his cause of death was not revealed yet.

Tributes flooded social media after his demise news broke out.

Tributes to Otis Grand:

Mark Hummel posted,

So sad to hear my old buddy Otis Grand has left the building. We go waaaayyy back to the mid 80s meeting him at Ashkanaz when Franck Goldwasser introduced us. I stayed with he, wife Pam & his family in Croydon in 1987 and again in 1997 & he always treated me like gold. This is very sad as we just reconnected in Feb when I was in UK for the first time in yrs. Otis booked my first gig in London in 1987 I recall.

Phil Jackson posted,

So sorry to hear about the passing of Otis Grand. He was, I think, due to tour this year. In my opinion he was a truly great blues player and this is one of my all-time favourite tracks….
Presented by Don’s Tunes whose 1.58 million subscribers reflect the true market for good blues and jazz..

Danny Giles posted,

Reading reports of the passing of Otis Grand. Passing on my condolences to his family and the wider blues community. A larger than life character, he truly lived it. When I was in my late teens he gave advice on amps and tone, later when I went solo he called me out of the blue to give me some solid advice on being a touring musician and the pitfalls of the lifestyle. Fly on blues man and thanks for your support.

Tony Burke tweeted,

Very sad to learn of the passing of the great UK based blues artist Otis Grand. A great guitar player and a really good guy. His bands were always hot! Great albums and great tours with R&B artists inc Jimmy Thomas, Jimmy ‘T99’ Nelson, Ike Turner.

Pete Feenstra posted,

OTIS GRAND RIP
HE WAS THE BLUES!

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1 thought on “Otis Grand death: American blues musician died aged 73”

  1. This obituary is full of inaccuracies I am afraid. The ‘In Grand Style’ is not a box set it is a 2 CD set, it has not been just released it was issued in 2002. Otis had retired from touring and playing gigs by choice, he had played just before the pandemic but had decided to retire. He was living in London, and played some private gigs. he was not a nightclub act. he played clubs and various venues on tours in the UK and in Europe but his gigs at Festivals were legendary and that’s is where he made his name.

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