I don't think it's been reported anywhere else on this form, so I thought I'd better pass on the news that the great African-American songwriter and record producer Clyde Otis died last week, aged 84.

I'm sure that everyone on here has at least some of Clyde's work in their collection, be it by Brook Benton, Jean Wells, Clyde McPhatter, Timi Yuro of any of a host of artists that Clyde produced for Mercury, Liberty or his own independent production company Argon Music.

When Clyde was made head of A & R for Mercury in the mid 50s, it marked the first time that a black man had occupied so senior a position in any record company. As a songwriter, his catalogue includes "What's A Matter Baby (Is It Hurting You)", Aretha Franklin's "Take A Look", Nat 'King Cole/Joe Simon's "Looking Back" and Brook Benton's "It's Just A Matter Of Time", to name but four.

His contributions to the evolution of Black American music remain unparallelled...

Very sad.

He also did some great tracks with Bessie Banks and Herman Kelley in the early 70s.

Otis Clyde, link to New York Times 18 Jan 08

https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/arts/mus...nyt&emc=rss

R.I.P.

Without these people behind the scenes at the record company there would have been no 60s soul as we know it. They lead the way for others to follow.

RIP