Otis Leavill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otis Leavill
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Otis Leavill in 1970.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Otis Leavill Cobb |
| Born | February 8, 1937 Dewey Rose, Elbert County, Georgia |
| Died | July 17, 2002 (aged 65) Chicago, Illinois |
| Genres | Soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1958–2002 |
| Labels | Okeh, Atlantic |
| Associated acts | The Chi-Lites, Tyrone Davis, Hamilton Bohannon, Chaka Khan. |
Otis Leavill (born February 8, 1937 – died July 17, 2002) was an American R&B singer. He also wrote songs and worked as a leader at a record company.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Otis Leavill Cobb was born in Dewey Rose, Georgia. When he was two, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. His father was a pastor. Otis began singing in his family's gospel group, the Cobb Quartet.
As a teenager, he enjoyed amateur boxing with his friend Major Lance. He finished high school and went to college. He formed a singing group called The Floats. They made a demo record but it was never released.
Music Career and Hits
In 1963, Otis released his first song, "Rise Sally Rise." His friend Curtis Mayfield wrote this song. He then released two more songs on the Limelight label.
His fourth song, "Let Her Love Me," became a hit. It reached number 31 on the Billboard R&B chart. Billy Butler wrote the song. Major Lance produced it, and The Impressions sang backup. Because of this success, Otis toured with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars.
Working Behind the Scenes
Otis Leavill also worked as a talent scout. This means he looked for new singers. He was also an assistant record producer. He helped make records for other artists. He worked with Carl Davis at Okeh and Brunswick.
He helped discover famous artists like The Chi-Lites, Tyrone Davis, and Chaka Khan. In 1967, Carl Davis started Dakar Records. Otis became the Vice-President of this new company.
Big Chart Success
Otis also recorded music for Dakar Records. In 1969, his song "I Love You" became his biggest hit. It reached number 10 on the R&B chart. Eugene Record from The Chi-Lites wrote the song. Eugene and Barbara Acklin sang backup vocals.
His next song, "Love Uprising," also made the R&B charts. Eugene Record wrote this song too.
Later Years and Legacy
Otis Leavill's later songs were not as successful. However, he kept working with other artists. He wrote songs for singers like Major Lance and Tyrone Davis. He worked for labels such as Brunswick and Chi-Sound.
Besides music, Otis coached football at Hyde Park High School. He also worked as a policeman for some time. In 1999, he toured Europe with The Dells. In 2000, he started his own record label called OK Records.
Otis Leavill passed away in Chicago in 2002 from a heart attack. He was 65 years old.
Selected Songs
- "I'm Amazed" (1964)
- "Let Her Love Me" (1965)
- "To Be Or Not To Be" (1965)
- "A Reason To Be Lonely" (1965)
- "I Love You" (1969)
