Originally Published in 2015
The name Otis Spann will always be mentioned at the top of any list of great Blues musicians. Spann is considered by many to be the greatest Blues Pianist to have ever lived. His contributions to the music of Muddy Waters are immeasurable and every Blues piano player that has followed Spann has borrowed from his style in some way.
Otis Spann was born on March 21st 1930 in Jackson, Mississippi. He was one of five children born to a musical family. Local musicians helped a young Otis Spann develop a unique style at a very young age and by 14 he was playing music in his local neighborhood. Spann did various other jobs through the years as well including a semi pro football player and a professional boxer.
In 1946 he moved to Chicago after his mother passed away. The great Big Maceo Merriweather took him under his wing and showed him around the city. After a short stint in the Army, Spann returned to Chicago and formed a friendship with the great Muddy Waters. When anyone listens to Chicago Blues classics by Muddy, they are hearing Otis Spann on a great bulk of those recordings. Spann became so close with him that Waters often called him his half brother. He also performed on numerous Chess Records recordings from Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, Little Walter and many others.
Otis Spann made his recording solo debut in 1960 with the great “Otis Spann is the Blues” LP. He recorded many remarkable albums over the years including 1969’s “The Biggest Thing Since Colossus” with the great Peter Green on Guitar.
On April 24th 1970 the world lost one of the greatest Blues artists of all time. Otis Spann sadly laid in an unmarked grave for almost 30 years until Steve Salter and Blues Revue Magazine collected donations and purchased a headstone which was unveiled in 1999. On the stone are the these words: “Otis played the deepest blues we ever heard- he’ll play forever in our hearts.” R.I.P. Otis Spann - March 21, 1930 - April 24, 1970. Thanks for the Music.
Comments