Otis Leavill
Encyclopedia
Otis Leavill was an American
R&B singer, songwriter
and record company executive.
, Georgia
, and moved with his family to the West Side
of Chicago
at the age of two. His father was pastor of the First Church of Deliverance
on South Wabash Avenue, and he started singing in the family's gospel group, the Cobb Quartet. In his teens, he took part in amateur boxing
with his friend Major Lance
, graduated from Crane High School
, and attended college
. With Lance and Barbara Tyson, he formed a short-lived vocal group, The Floats, who recorded an unreleased demo record
in 1958/59.
He released his first record, "Rise Sally Rise" coupled with "I Gotta Right To Cry" - written by another friend, Curtis Mayfield
- on the small Lucky label in 1963, and then issued two singles on the Limelight label. His fourth record, "Let Her Love Me", written by Billy Butler
, produced by Major Lance, and with The Impressions on backing vocals, was issued by Blue Rock Records
in late 1964, and rose to # 31 on the Billboard
R&B chart, its success leading to Leavill touring with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars. However, follow-up records on Blue Rock were unsuccessful, and he moved to on to record in the 1960s for several other labels.
As a talent scout and assistant producer
, he worked with Carl Davis at both Okeh
and Brunswick
, where he was credited with discovering The Chi-Lites
, Tyrone Davis
, Hamilton Bohannon
, and Yvette Stevens who became better known as Chaka Khan
. In 1967 Davis formed Dakar Records
, and Leavill joined him as Vice-President. Leavill also recorded with Dakar, and in 1969 "I Love You", written by Eugene Record
of The Chi-Lites and with backing vocals by Record and Barbara Acklin
, became his biggest chart hit, reaching # 10 on the R&B chart. The follow-up, "Love Uprising", also written by Record (and credited to "Otis Leaville"), again made the R&B charts.
His later records were unsuccessful, but Leavill continued to work with, and write songs for, such artists as Major Lance, Tyrone Davis, and Gene Chandler
on labels including Brunswick and Chi-Sound. He also coached football
at Hyde Park High
for several years, and worked as a policeman. In 1999 he toured Europe with The Dells
, and in 2000 he formed the OK Records label. He died of a heart attack in 2002, aged 65.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and record company executive.
Life and career
Otis Leavill Cobb was born in Dewey Rose, Elbert CountyElbert County, Georgia
Elbert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was established on December 10, 1790 and was named for Samuel Elbert. As of 2000, the population was 20,511. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 20,525...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, and moved with his family to the West Side
Near West Side, Chicago
The Near West Side, one of the 77 defined community areas of Chicago, is located , adjacent to the downtown central business district . The rich history of the Near West Side of Chicago has its genesis in the Hull House phenomenon...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at the age of two. His father was pastor of the First Church of Deliverance
First Church of Deliverance
First Church of Deliverance is a landmark church located at 4315 South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The church was built in 1939 by Walter T. Bailey, and two towers were added to it in 1946 by Kocher, Buss & DeKlerk. It was designated a Chicago Landmark on October 5, 1994....
on South Wabash Avenue, and he started singing in the family's gospel group, the Cobb Quartet. In his teens, he took part in amateur boxing
Amateur boxing
Amateur boxing is practised at the collegiate level, at the Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games, and in many other venues sponsored by amateur boxing associations. Amateur boxing bouts are short in duration and fighters wear head protection, so this type of competition prizes point-scoring rather...
with his friend Major Lance
Major Lance
Major Lance was an American R&B singer. After a number of US hits in the 1960s, including "The Monkey Time" and "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um", he became an iconic figure in Britain in the 1970s among followers of Northern soul.-Life:Major Lance was born in Winterville, Mississippi...
, graduated from Crane High School
Crane High School (Illinois)
Richard T. Crane Technical Preparatory High School, commonly known as Crane Tech Prep or Crane Tech High School, is a public high school in Chicago, Illinois. It is located at 2245 West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago's Near West Side community area....
, and attended college
City Colleges of Chicago
The City Colleges of Chicago is a system of seven community colleges which provide learning opportunities for Chicago residents at the schools or online, and also members of the US military through the Navy Campus to enhance their knowledge and skills. Student enrollment was 115,000 in 2007...
. With Lance and Barbara Tyson, he formed a short-lived vocal group, The Floats, who recorded an unreleased demo record
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
in 1958/59.
He released his first record, "Rise Sally Rise" coupled with "I Gotta Right To Cry" - written by another friend, Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield was an American soul, R&B, and funk singer, songwriter, and record producer.He is best known for his anthemic music with The Impressions during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's and for composing the soundtrack to the blaxploitation film Super Fly, Mayfield is highly...
- on the small Lucky label in 1963, and then issued two singles on the Limelight label. His fourth record, "Let Her Love Me", written by Billy Butler
Billy Butler (singer)
Billy Butler is an American soul singer and songwriter active principally in the 1960s and early 1970s.Butler is Jerry Butler's younger brother. He formed the vocal group The Enchanters while at high school. He first recorded for Okeh Records in 1963, and was produced initially by Curtis Mayfield...
, produced by Major Lance, and with The Impressions on backing vocals, was issued by Blue Rock Records
Blue Rock Records
Blue Rock Records was a subsidiary of Mercury Records, and like their parent, based in Chicago between 1964 and 1969.Despite their name, they didn't release blues or rock, concentrating almost exclusively on soul music, with a fair number of the singles echoing Chi-town styles popularized by Curtis...
in late 1964, and rose to # 31 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart, its success leading to Leavill touring with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars. However, follow-up records on Blue Rock were unsuccessful, and he moved to on to record in the 1960s for several other labels.
As a talent scout and assistant producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, he worked with Carl Davis at both Okeh
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
and Brunswick
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
, where he was credited with discovering The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites
The Chi-Lites are a Chicago-based smooth soul vocal quartet from the early 1970s, one of the few from the period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia...
, Tyrone Davis
Tyrone Davis
Tyrone Davis , born Tyrone Fettson, was a leading American soul singer with a distinctive style, recording a long list of hit records over a period of more than 20 years. He had three no...
, Hamilton Bohannon
Hamilton Bohannon
Hamilton Bohannon is an American percussionist, band leader and record producer, who was one of the leading figures in 1970s disco music...
, and Yvette Stevens who became better known as Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
. In 1967 Davis formed Dakar Records
Dakar Records
Dakar Records was a record label started by Carl Davis in 1967, while employed at Brunswick Records. The label was initially distributed by Atlantic Records subsidiary Cotillion Records, and was based in Chicago. All releases after late 1971 were distributed by Brunswick Records.Notable artists on...
, and Leavill joined him as Vice-President. Leavill also recorded with Dakar, and in 1969 "I Love You", written by Eugene Record
Eugene Record
Eugene Record was the American lead vocalist of the Chicago, Illinois based band, The Chi-Lites, during the 1960s and 1970s.He was born Eugene Booker Record in Chicago...
of The Chi-Lites and with backing vocals by Record and Barbara Acklin
Barbara Acklin
Barbara Jean Acklin was an American soul singer and songwriter who was most successful in the 1960s and 1970s. Her biggest hit as a singer was "Love Makes a Woman" in 1968...
, became his biggest chart hit, reaching # 10 on the R&B chart. The follow-up, "Love Uprising", also written by Record (and credited to "Otis Leaville"), again made the R&B charts.
His later records were unsuccessful, but Leavill continued to work with, and write songs for, such artists as Major Lance, Tyrone Davis, and Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler
Gene Chandler also known as "The Duke of Earl" or simply "The Duke", is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, producer and record executive. He is one of the leading exponents of the 1960s Chicago soul scene...
on labels including Brunswick and Chi-Sound. He also coached football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
at Hyde Park High
Hyde Park Career Academy
Hyde Park Career Academy is a public 4-year high school located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299.-Notable alumni:...
for several years, and worked as a policeman. In 1999 he toured Europe with The Dells
The Dells
The Dells are an R&B and crossover musical group. Their successful recordings spanned more than four decades. Formed in 1952 after attending high school together, the Dells' repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul, disco and contemporary rhythm and blues...
, and in 2000 he formed the OK Records label. He died of a heart attack in 2002, aged 65.